length and breadth of the world for collaborating with the perfidious Saxons. He’s pushing in our door and singing, And if, when all a vigil keep, The West’s  asleep, the West’s  asleep! Alas! and well my Erin weep, That Connacht lies in slumber deep, But hark! a voice like thunder spake ‘The West’s  awake!  the West’s  awake! Sing, Oh, hurrah, let England quake, We’ll watch till death for Erin’s sake!’ He calls from the bottom of the stairs, Angela, Angela, is there a drop of tea in this house? She doesn’t answer and he calls again, Francis, Malachy, come down here, boys. I have the Friday Penny for you. I want to go down and get the Friday Penny but Mam is sobbing with the coat over her mouth and Malachy says, I don’t want his old Friday Penny. He can keep it. Dad is stumbling up the stairs, making a speech about how we all have to die for Ireland. He lights a match and touches it to the candle by Mam’s bed. He holds the candle over his head and marches around the room, singing, See who comes over the red-blossomed heather, Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air, Heads erect, eyes to front, stepping proudly together, Sure freedom sits throned on each proud spirit there. Michael wakes and lets out a loud cry, the Hannons are banging on the wall next door, Mam is telling Dad he’s a disgrace and why doesn’t he get out of the house altogether. He stands in the middle of the floor with the candle over his head. He pulls a penny from his pocket and waves it to Malachy and me.Your Friday Penny, boys, he says. I want you to jump out of that bed and line up here like two soldiers and promise to die for Ireland and I’ll give the two of you the Friday Penny. 111