Irish War of Independence

Found in Danny Dowling’s voluminous files are lyrics entitled “Fluskey’s Motor Car.” The humorous song concerns the Irish War of Independence and an automobile belonging to James Fluskey (1882-1960) of Glenmore Village. An extensive newspaper search was conducted, but no newspaper account could be located regarding James Fluskey and his volunteering his motor car or having it commandeered. The name of the author of the lyrics is not recorded and the music is also absent. It is believed that Jim B. of Glenmore Village may have been the author and sang this song.

[Update 18 Sept. 2021…Thanks to Nicholas Hogan we have further information concerning the lyrics. The original song was written about a true event that occured in Ulster in 1921 and was entitled “Johnston’s Motor Car” written by William Gillespie. According to wikipedia it was first recorded by the Clancy Brothers in 1963 and the Dubliners a decade later. “Fluskey’s Motor Car” is a local version. For the original and another version, see generally, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnston%27s_Motor_Car ].

Here is a you tube link to the Dubliners performing the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOcEGXBWul8.

At the conclusion of the lyrics we have listed and provided links to the previously published Glenmore verses and information on the Fluskey family.

Fluskey’s Motor Car

I.

It was down Fluskey’s corner,
One evening I did stray,  
It was there I met Jack Scanlon,  
And this to me did say,   
"I’ve orders from the Captain,   
To assemble and go far,    
But how can we assemble,    
Without a motor car?"

II.

"Oh, Scanlon dear be of good cheer,       
I’ll tell you what we’ll do,        
The Black and Tans are plenty,           
While we are only few,      
I’ll ring up Jamesy Fluskey,          
Before we’ll get that far,          
And we’ll give the boys a jolly spin,          
In Fluskey’s motor car."

III.

When Fluskey got the wire my boys,       
He soon stuck on his shoes,       
Says he my case is urgent,      
And I’ve got no time to lose.   
He wore a velvet Chester hat,       
And on his breast a star,         
You could hear the din, going to Ballyquin,     
In Fluskey’s motor car.

IV.

But when we got to Mullinavat,       
We met the die-hards there.          
The game he knew was up with him,             
And at them he did stare,                                
Say’s he, "I have a permit,          
To take me near and far."     
"We don’t want your English permit,         
 We want your motor car."

V.

They got the car in motion,
And filled her to the brim,
With guns and shining bayonets,
And Fluskey he did grin.
Then Scanlon hoisted the Sinn Fein flag. 
We shot off like a star,
We gave three cheers for the I.R.A.,    
And Fluskeys’ motor car.

VI.

"What will the sergeant say of this,     
When I will reach Glenmore?
To have my car commandeered,     
By those rebels from the Rower."
"We’ll give you a receipt for it,     
And signed by Dinny Meagher,       
And when Ireland’s free,               
It’s then we’ll see to Fluskey’s Motor Car."

VII.

And when the Sergeant heard of this,      
Like a trooper he cursed and swore,                 
Says he, "I’ll meet those blokes halfway,     
Before I will give o’er."                              
They searched all Bishop’s Mountain,        
And the hills of Ballinclare,                     
But the I.R.A. were far away,                  
In Fluskey’s motor car.

VIII.

So now my song is ended,       
I’ve got no more to say,             
But here’s to Jamesy Fluskey,     
A hero in his day.                           
So stand up to attention,                 
And give a ringing cheer,        
Long life to Jamsey Fluskey,            
And his rattling open gear.

James “Jim” Fluskey (1882 -1960) was the son of Robert Fluskey and his second wife, Catherine Fluskey née Dunne. See the blog post of 28 May 2020 for details regarding the Fluskey family. Jim Fluskey is not listed as one of the members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA. The list of known members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA may be accessed by clicking here.

According to the birth register, John “Jack” Scanlan, of Glenmore Village, was born 1 November 1889 to James Scanlan (shoemaker) and his wife Anastatia Scanlan née Fitzgerald. However, the Glenmore Parish records record his birth as 30 October 1889 and his baptism was on 1 November 1889. According to Danny Dowling’s notes Jack Scanlan never married and like his father worked as a shoemaker. Jack Scanlan is not listed as one of the members of the Glenmore Company of the IRA. 

No local records could be found for “Dinny Meagher” in the IRA. However, during the Emergency (World War II) a man bearing that name was involved in the Black Market and sold difficult to obtain items, like tea, to Glenmore residents. My father-in-law, Tom Walsh (1908-1992) told the story of how the Custom Officials visited Pat “Cushey” Grant, of  Robintown, Glenmore asking questions concerning Dinny Meagher. It was said that Cushey replied to their queries that he did not trade in Dinny Meagher’s shop, but if they saw Dinny Meagher would they tell him to call to him (Cushey) because he (Cushey) owed Dinny Meagher some money.

If anyone has any corrections or further or different information concerning the lyrics, author or the persons named in the lyrics please send same to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Special thanks to Nicholas Hogan for sending on the wikipedia article.

Other Local Verses, Rhymes and Lyrics

On 11 January 2020 we published an article entitled Glenmore Verses, Rhymes and Lyrics , and on 23 September 2020 we published the Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock. To access the old blogs just click on the titles. Lastly, guest author Dick Claridge shared the local versus he has collected. Click here.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh