What's the news, what's the news, oh my bold Shelmalier
With your long barrelled gun of the sea
Say what wind from the south brings his messenger here
With a hymn of the dawn for the free

'Goodly news, goodly news do I bring youth of forth 
Goodly news will you hear, bargy man
For the boys march at morn from the south to the north
Led by Kelly the boy from Killan

Tell me who is that giant with the gold curling hair
He who rides at the head of your band
Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command

Ah me boys, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers
Among our greatest of heroes a man
Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers
For John Kelly, the boy from Killan
 
Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford is won
And tomorrow the Barrow we will cross
On a hill ore that town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateway at Ross

All the forth men and Bargy men march o'er the heath
With brave Harvey to lead on the van
But the formost of men in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly, the boy from Killan
 
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And is set by the Slaney's red waves
And poor Wexford stripped naked hung high on a cross
Her heart pierced by traitors and slaves

Glory oh, glory oh to the brave boys who died
For the cause of long downtrodden land
Glory oh to mount Leinster's own darling and pride 
Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killane