The Woodlands of Loughglinn is an anthem dedicated to the memory of those that died in the Loughglynn Ambush in April 1921. It was written by Mary-Anne Regan from Kilgariff, Castlerea, who also wrote some plays before she died tragically as a young nurse in England. The song has been recorded by Brendan Shine, among others.

The summer sun was sinking low,
Behind the western sea,
The lark’s loud song was pealing sweet,
But it brought no joy to me.
For the one I loved is far away,
He’s left his tyrants den
He fought till death, and then he left,
The woodlands of Loughglynn.

A noble Irishman was he,
John Berigan was his name.
He belonged to Tipperary,
And from Nenagh town he came.
But now, thank God, that he is gone,
Away from harm and sin,
He fought till death, and then he left,
The woodlands of Loughglynn.

McDermott too, was brave and true,
From the plains round Ballinagare,
He’s missed at many’s a fireside,
In the homes both near and far.
He’s missed at home in Brackloon
By his own dear kith and kin,
His comrade true, they’ll miss him too,
In the woodlands of Loughglynn.

When our heroes they were dying there,
They sent for the clergyman,
Let no one think, they feared to face,
The English Black-and-Tans.
The clergy came and were in time,
But as they said “Amen”,
McDermott’s soul was departing to,
The woodlands of Loughglynn.