Rifles of the I.R.A. (Engels voor geweren van het I.R.A.) is een Iers verzetslied, vaak gecatalogiseerd onder de Ierse rebel-muziek. De tekst handelt over de Paasopstand en de daaropvolgende strijd tussen het Iers Republikeins Leger (het IRA) en de zogenaamde "Black and Tans", zo genoemd naar hun zwart-met-bruine uniform, een soort militie die door de Britten gebruikt werd om de Ierse opstand in de kiem te smoren.
De tekst, zoals gezongen door de Wolfe Tones op hun gelijknamige album, luidt als volgt:
"In 1916, the forces of the Crown, for to take the orange white and green bombarded Dublin Town But in '21, Brittania's sons were forced to earn their pay When the black and tans like lightning ran from the rifles of the I.R.A.
They burned their way through Munster and laid Leinster on the rack Through Connaught and through Ulster marched the men in brown and black They shot down wives and children in their own heroic way But the black and tans like lightning ran from the rifles of the I.R.A.
They hang young Kevin Barry high a lad of eighteen years Cork City's flames lit up the sky but our brave lads knew no fear The Cork brigade with hand-grenades in ambush wait and lay And the black and tans like lightning ran from the rifles of the I.R.A.
The tans were got, taken out and shot by the brave and the valliant few Sean Treacy, Denny Lacey and Tom Barry's gallant crew Though we're not free yet we won't forget until our dying day How the black and tans like lightning ran from the rifles of the I.R.A."
Categorie:Iers lied