Why "The Beach is the Border" Still Echoes in Irish Music
A rousing, defiant anthem that traces centuries of struggle against the Crown and argues for a united Ireland with the recurring refrain "The beach is the border." It draws on historical memory — naming 1922 and the northern counties — and matters because songs like this continue the Irish tradition of telling history, asserting identity, and galvanising communities through music. Hey! Onward we march, forever we strived, the heart of our nation shall not be deprived For eight hundred years, we stood strong in the fight, Through Torment and Famine, our spirits ignite. We took every burden, we weathered the storm, And still we stood firm as the centuries rolled on. The Crown came a killing, their banners waved high, But they couldn't destroy us, although many died. From east to the west and the north to the south When our people united, we drove them back out. The beach is the border, it always will be, From village to city, We'll rise and be free. A nation d...