Come Here To Me!

The Mountjoy Hotel, a satirical musical take on the ‘virtues’ of Dublin’s most famous prison, was written by Irish Volunteer Phil O’Neill (a.k.a. Sliabh Ruadh) in 1918. It was sung to the air of ‘The Mountains of Mourne’.

O’Neill wrote a book History of the GAA 1910-1930 in 1931 and was co-author of the Rally Round the Banner Boys book of ballads from around 1920.

Dominic Behan recorded an edited version of song for his 1963 record Peelers and Prisoners (TOP85).

Here is the original text:

The Mountjoy Hotel ‘song’. Credit – mysterypagination.wordpress.com

Also check out this fascinating ‘fake’ menu card drawn up by Republican prisoners for propaganda purposes – taken from The Samuels Collection in Trinity College Dublin.

The Mountjoy Hotel fake Menu Card. Credit – TCD via europeana.eu