Broadside ballads entitled 'The Isle of France' and 'Home rule for Ireland'

Commentary

The first ballad begins: 'The sun was fair the clouds advanced, / When a convict came to the Isle of France, / Around his leg he wore a ring and chain, / And his country was of the Shamrock green.'

The second ballad begins: 'Come all you sons of Erin, / Who love your native soil ; / I claim your kind attention, / Just for a little while.'

Although these songs appear to be unrelated they are in fact both about Ireland and the exploits of Irishmen. The first ballad, also known by the titles 'The shamrock green' and 'The convict's song', refers to the penal colony established on the island of Mauritius. The second was written to encourage political agitation over the question of home rule for Ireland.

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