“Roddy McCorley” is a famous Irish ballad that commemorates the execution of a young Irish rebel during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The song tells the story of Roddy McCorley, who was hanged at the Bridge of Toome in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Although historical records about the real McCorley are somewhat limited, he has become a celebrated martyr in Irish republican tradition. The ballad itself was written by Ethna Carbery (the pen name of Anna Johnston) in the late 19th century, nearly a century after McCorley’s death, during a period of renewed Irish nationalism. The song gained widespread popularity through various recordings in the 20th century, including versions by the Clancy Brothers, the Dubliners, and other prominent Irish folk musicians.