What's the news, what's the news
Oh, my bold Shelmalier
With your long barrelled gun of the sea
Say what winds from the south
Blows your messenger here
With his hymn of the dawn for the free
Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring youth of Forth
Goodly news, shall you hear Bargy man
For the boys march at dawn
From the south to the north
Led by Kelly, the boy from Killane

Tell me who is that giant with the gold curling hair
He who strides at the head of your band
Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare
He looks like a king in command
Ah, me boys, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers
mongst our greatest of heroes, a man
So, fling your beavers aloft
And give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly, the boy from Killane

Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won
And tomorrow the Barrow we cross
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway to Ross
All the Forth men and Bargy men
Will march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death
Will be Kelly, the boy from Killane

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And it set by the Slaney's red waves
And poor Wexford, stripped naked,
Hung high on a cross
With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves
Glory Oh, Glory Oh, to the brave men who died
For the cause of long-downtrodden men
Glory Oh, to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride
Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killane