Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Senator Norris's rousing rally reminded me to remind the House that this week commemorates the disastrous tragedy at the battle of Fredericksburg during the American Civil War when Thomas Francis Meagher led the fighting 69th Regiment and many lives were lost. An interesting article in the "Irishman's Diary" section of The Irish Times, which I commend to the House, pointed out that what lifted their spirits afterwards was a rousing rally by one of the captains who broke into his favourite song that became a rallying cry throughout the decades. I was expecting Senator Norris to finish his flourish with "Ireland Boys, Hurrah".