“The Foggy Dew”- The Irish Rebel Song that Became Popular as a UFC Walkout Song
When it comes to UFC walkout songs, Conor McGregor’s “The Foggy Dew” can effectively intimidate, as it is a reminder of the irish boxer’s indomitable nature. While the song is an old Irish rebel song chronicling the 1916 Easter Rising against Great Britain, the former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion preferred to hear Sinead O’Connor’s rendition, every time he entered the UFC stadium.
The song also marked McGregor’s historic July 2014 UFC fight, the first time he used the music as his entrance song in the Dublin card. McGregor was already an intimidating figure when he waved to the legions of Celtic fans all fired up in hearing Sinead O’Connor’s powerful voice singing “The Foggy Dew” The raucous Dublin crowd all the more went into a frenzy as they watched the Irish boxer demolish Diego Brandão with a technical knockout in the first round; even before the Brazilian got the chance to use his Brazilian jiu jitsu (bjj) skills in warding off McGregor’s pummels.
In fact McGregor won a hefty $50,000 bonus in being named as the recipient of “Performance of the Night” award. Since then, the Irish fighter made “The Foggy Dew” his signature entrance song during his illustrious career as a UFC fighter.
The song also explains the rebellious character rooted in Conan McGregor’s personality, which he demonstrated in and out of the UFC combat sports arena.
”The Foggy Dew,” a Lamentation of the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland
“The Foggy Dew” narrates the story of the irish Republican’s rejection of the British rule and sovereign power over Ireland. The main reason is that back then, the British Empire called on most of its colonial subjects, particularly the young adult males to serve in the battlefield and protect the United Kingdom’s interest and sovereignty. During the period, the Gallipoli Campaign in the Middle East was the conflict, to which the British Empire had sent thousands of young Irishmen, Welshmen, Australians, New Zealnders and Indians to their deaths.
During the 1914 Easter Rising, irish patriots awoke the feelings of many of their country men on why they should fight for wars that are not of interest to the irish people. Rather than do so, why not just fight for Ireland’s freedom instead; a sentiment expressed in the “The Foggy Dew” via the line “Twas far better to die ‘neath an Irish sky, Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar.” Suvia being the battlefield of the Gallipoli Campaign where as many as 3,000 middle class Irishmen perished.
The Rising though led to the execution of the leaders, which as a result, caused further animosity toward the British Rule. To make short a long story about a long period of conflict and violence that transpired thereafter, 28 of Ireland’s 32 counties subsequently seceded in 1922 and formed the Free irish State, as agreed upon in the Anglo-irish Treaty.
In 1937, the Free irish State finally became the Republic of ireland while the pro-British irish citizens or “the Unionists” who favored staying under British rule, were left to occupy the Northern Ireland territory.