''Johnston's Motor Car'' is an

Irish rebel song In the music of Ireland, Irish rebel songs refer to folk songs which are primarily about the various rebellions against English (and later British) Crown rule. Songs about prior rebellions are a popular topic of choice among musicians which supp ...

written by Willie Gillespie based on the commandeering in

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

of a motor car belonging to Henry Maturin Johnston (1851-1932) by the

Irish Republican Army The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief tha ...

(IRA).

History

The song is based on a real event in April 1921. An

unit needed transport to a town over fifty miles away, but had no car to carry them. They decided to call out Henry M. Johnston, a doctor based in

Stranorlar Stranorlar () is a town, townland and civil parish in the Finn Valley of County Donegal, in Ireland. Stranorlar and Ballybofey (located on the other side of the River Finn) form ''the Twin Towns''. Transport The town is located at the junctio ...

, and then ambush him and his car at a bridge and commandeer the car for the

IRA Ira or IRA may refer to: *Ira (name), a Hebrew, Sanskrit, Russian or Finnish language personal name *Ira (surname), a rare Estonian and some other language family name *Iran, UNDP code IRA Law *Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, US, on status of ...

. Johnston was sent a telegraph asking him to attend to a Mrs Boyle. On his way there, he found the Reelin Bridge in Glenfin barricaded by the IRA, who forced him to give them his car. In 2019, retired Ballybofey businessman Cathal McHugh claimed to have found what he believes to be the remnants of the vehicle under a

turf Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls. In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricultu ...

stack in

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

Composition

William Gillespie, a poet from

Ballybofey Ballybofey ( , ; ) is a town located on the south bank of the River Finn, County Donegal, Ireland. Together with the smaller town of Stranorlar on the north side of the River Finn, the towns form the Twin Towns of Ballybofey-Stranorlar. Ba ...

, wrote the song shortly after the event. The song was very popular in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

in the 1920s before being rediscovered and covered by bands including

The Dubliners The Dubliners were an Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named after its founding member; they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in personn ...

and

Flying Column A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ''ad hoc'' unit, formed during the course of operations. The term is usually, though not necessarily, appli ...

, although the more modern versions have slightly different lyrics; ''Johnston'' is often replaced with ''Johnson'' as well, as in the

Clancy Brothers The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music group that developed initially as a part of the American folk music revival. Most popular during the 1960s, they were famed for their Aran jumper sweaters and are widely credited with popu ...

version.

Original Lyrics

:Down by

Brockagh Brockagh (or Brocagh,"Brocagh and Belville House"
Culture Northern I ...

Corner one morning I did stray, :When I met another rebel bold, who this to me did say: :I've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar :But how are we to reach Dungloe without a Motor Car? :O Barney dear, be of good cheer and I'll tell you what we'll do. :The Black and Tans have plenty guns altho' we have but few. :We'll wire down to Stranorlar before we walk so far, :And we'll give the boys a jolly ride on Johnston's Motor Car. :When Johnston got the wire then he soon pulled on his shoes. :He says this case is urgent, there's little time to lose. :He wore a fancy caster hat and on his breast a star. :You could hear the din going through Glenfin of Johnston's Motor Car. :When he came to the Reelin Bridge, he met some rebels there. :He knew the game was up with him, and at them he did stare. :He said I've got a permit for travelling out so far :You can keep your English permit, but we want your motor car. :What will my loyal comrades say when I get to Drumboe. :To say my car was commandeered by rebels from Dungloe. :We'll give you a receipt for her, its signed by Captain Maher, :And when Ireland's free, then we will see to Johnston's Motor Car. :They put the car in motion, they filled it to the brim. :With guns and bayonets shining, while Johnston he did grin. :When Barney waved a Sinn Féin flag, she shot off like a star :And they gave three cheers for freedom and for Johnston's Motor Car. :When the loyal crew they heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore. :They swore they'd have reprisals before they would give o'er. :In vain they searched through Glenties, the Rosses and Kilcar, :While the I.R.A. their flags displayed on Johnston's Motor Car.

Popular Lyrics

:'Twas down by Brannigan's Corner, one morning I did stray :I met a fellow rebel, and to me he did say :"We've orders from the captain to assemble at Drumbar :But how are we to get there, without a motor car?" :"Oh, Barney dear, be of good cheer, I'll tell you what we'll do :The Specials they are plentiful and the

are few :We'll send a wire to Johnston to meet us at

:And we'll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnston's Motor Car. :When Doctor Johnston heard the news he soon put on his shoes :He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose :He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star :You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnston's motor car. :But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there :Old Johnston knew the game was up, for at him they did stare :He said "I have a permit, to travel near and far" :"To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car." :"What will my loyal brethren think, when they hear the news :My car it has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce?" :"We'll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr :And when Ireland gets her freedom, you'll get your motor car." :Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim :With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnston grim :And Barney hoisted a

Sinn Féin Sinn Féin ( , ; en, " eOurselves") is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party active throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The original Sinn Féin organisation was founded in 1905 by Arthur Gri ...

flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

, and it fluttered like a star :And we gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnston's Motor Car.

Recordings

The Clancy Brothers The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music group that developed initially as a part of the American folk music revival. Most popular during the 1960s, they were famed for their Aran jumper sweaters and are widely credited with popu ...

, ''

In Person at Carnegie Hall ''In Person at Carnegie Hall'' was the seminal Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem's most successful album. It was recorded in Carnegie Hall on 17 March 1963 at their annual St. Patrick's Day concert. In the documentary, ''The ...

'' (1963) *

Dominic Behan Dominic Behan ( ; ga, Doiminic Ó Beacháin; 22 October 1928 – 3 August 1989) was an Irish songwriter, singer, short story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in Irish and English. He was also a socialist and an Irish republican. Born i ...

, ''Easter Week and after'' (1965) *

, ''

Plain and Simple ''Plain and Simple'' is a studio album by The Dubliners, the last to be produced by Phil Coulter. Released on the Polydor label in 1973, it featured a number of tracks penned by Coulter himself, including "The Town I Loved So Well", written abou ...

'' (1973) * The Flying Column, ''Four Green Fields'' (1972) *

Renaud Renaud Pierre Manuel Séchan (), known as Renaud (), born 11 May 1952, is a French singer, songwriter and actor. His characteristically 'broken' voice makes for a very distinctive vocal style. Several of his songs are popular classics in F ...

, ''

Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise ''Molly Malone – Balade irlandaise'' is an album by French singer-songwriter Renaud, released on 23 November 2009 on EMI Records. It is a collection of traditional-style Irish folk songs translated into French, an idea that had been maturing in ...

'' (2009) - A French translation

References

{{authority control Irish songs The Dubliners songs Year of song missing