User:MFIreland/Clare's Dragoons

The Clare's Regiment, later known as Clare's Dragoons, was initially named O'Brians Regiment after its originator Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare.

The Clare's Regiment remained loyal to the dethroned James II of England and fought against the army of William III of England, during the Williamite War in Ireland.

Most Irish regiments followed James II to France after being defeated by the Williamite forces in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 know as the Flight of the Wild Geese and the regiments, among which Clare's Regiment, consequently became known as Wild Geese Regiments.

The Clare's Regiment was an infantry regiment, they acquired the honourable nickname Clare's Dragoons.

There were two Irish regiments in French service that bore at some time the name of Clare and of O'Brien. The original O'Brien's Regiment was placed on the French establishment in 1689, and after being reamed as Clare's Regiment in 1691 it was renamed again in 1694 as Lee's Regiment.

The second Clare's Regiment which was raised in 1696. This seconded regiment is the one refered to in the Clare's Dragoons song. This regiment too was briefly named O'Brien's Regiment. In 1775 this second Clare's Regiment was disbanded and its troops incorporated into Berwick's Regiment.

Clare's Dragoons (song)
Clare's Dragoons
 * When on Ramillie's bloody field,
 * The baffled French were forced to yield,
 * The victor Saxon backward reeled
 * Before the charge of Clare's Dragoons.
 * The Flags we conquered in that fray,
 * Look lone in Ypres' choir, they say,
 * We'll win thm company to-day,
 * Or bravely die like Clares Dragoons.

Chorus:


 * Viva la for Ireland's wrong!
 * Viva la, for Ireland's right!
 * Viva la in battle throng,
 * For a Spanish steed, and sabre bright!


 * The brave old Lord died near the fight,
 * But, for each drop he lost that night,
 * A Saxon cavalier shall bite
 * The dust before Lord Clare's Dragoons,
 * For never, when our saabres met,
 * Could we the Saxon soldiers get
 * To stand the shock of Clare's Dragoons.


 * Viva la, the New Brigade!
 * Viva la, the Old One too!
 * Viva la, the rose shall fade,
 * And the shamrock shine forever new!


 * Another Clare is here to leasd,
 * The worthy son of such a breed;
 * The French expect some famous deed,
 * When Clare leads on his bold Dragoons.
 * Our Colonel comes from Brians race,
 * His wounds are in his breast and face,
 * The bearna baoghail is still his place,
 * The foremost of his bold Dragoons.


 * Viva la, the New Brigade!
 * Viva la, the Old One too!
 * Viva la, the rose shall fade,
 * And the shamrock shine forever new!


 * There's not a man in squadron here
 * Was ever known to flinch or fear;
 * Though first in charge and last in rere,
 * Have ever been Lord Clare's Dragoons;
 * But, see! We'll soon have work to do,
 * To shame our boasts, or prove them true,
 * For hither comes the English crew,
 * To sweep away Lord Clare's Dragoons.


 * Viva la for Ireland's wrong!
 * Viva la, for Ireland's right!
 * Viva la in battle throng,
 * For a Spanish steed, and sabre bright!


 * Oh! Comrades! Think how Ireland pines,
 * Her exiled Lords, her rifled shrines,
 * Her dearest hope, the ordered lines,
 * And bursting charge of Clare's Dragoons,
 * The fling your Green Flag to the sky,
 * Be "Limerick!" your battle cry,
 * And charge, till blood floats fetlock-high,
 * Around the track of Clare's Dragoons!


 * Viva la, the New Brigade!
 * Viva la, the Old One too!
 * Viva la, the rose shall fade,
 * And the shamrock shine forever new!

Clare's Dragoons
 * When, on Ramillies' bloody field,
 * The baffled French were forced to yield,
 * The victor Saxon backward reeled
 * Before the charge of Clare's Dragoons.
 * The flags we conquered in that fray,
 * Look lone in Ypres' choir, they say,
 * We'll win them company today,
 * Or bravely die like Clare's Dragoons.


 * Viva la, for Ireland's wrong!
 * Viva la, for Ireland's right!
 * Viva la, in battle throng,
 * For a Spanish steed and sabre bright!


 * Another Clare is here to lead,
 * The worthy son of such a breed
 * The French expect some famous deed,
 * When Clare leads on his bold dragoons.
 * Our colonel comes from Brian's race,
 * His wounds are in his breast and face,
 * The bearna baoghil is still his place,
 * The foremost of his bold dragoon.


 * Viva la, the new brigade!
 * Viva la, the old one too!
 * Viva la, the rose shall fade
 * And the shamrock shine forever new!


 * Oh! comrades, think how Ireland pines,
 * Her exiled lords, her rifled shrines,
 * Her dearest hope, the ordered lines,
 * And bursting charge of Clare's Dragoons.
 * Then fling your green flag to the sky,
 * Be "Limerick!" your battle-cry,
 * And charge, till blood floats fetlock-high
 * Around the track of Clare's Dragoons.


 * Viva la, the new brigade!
 * Viva la, the old one too!
 * Viva la, the rose shall fade
 * And the shamrock shine forever new!