Long ago there were coats named walecoats and these were worn by the Donegal men when going up to Devy to beat the Orangemen.

transcribed at

St Mary's, Buncrana  [duchas:4417446]

Long ago there were coats named walecoats and these were worn by the Donegal men when going to Derry to beat the Orange men. These coats were grey and had long loose sleeves and large collars but no belts as they did not require any.

They also wore red knitted caps on their heads, and these were very small, and only reached down to the ears.

There is a song concerning these coats

St Mary's, Buncrana  [duchas:4417447]

which runs as follows:- 


And were you up in Derry- 'boys'
Or on the Derry Wall,
And did  you see the Walecoats,
That marched from Donegal.



Mr James Gill, of the Backhill, was one of the Wale Coats who marched to Derry. He is well, though ninety, and can walk fasting to Cockhill Church.

Another of the walecoats was the late John O'Donnell - from Desertegeny - and he marched up to Derry with these men.

Most of these men came from Urris and they joined the others at Kinnego.

The Illies men marched down with the late Patrick McDaid of Glashie at their head.

There were over one hundred men and when all had come together they marched up to Derry, and the late John Barr of Buncrana was the leader.

They marched boldly into Derry and carried blackthorn sticks.

They walked up the strand and on through Waterloo place and boldly mounted the walls. No one interfered with them, and soon after that they were invited to visit the chaple

St Mary's, Buncrana  [duchas:4417448]

On their going in through the door a priest took charge of the blackthorns.

A short time previous the Orangemen had denied the Catholics to walk on the walls and their coming to the city on that day was an answer to that challenge.

Often and often in years after, many an old man told, with pride, of that day when the courageous walicoated Donegal  men marched from Inishowen to the City of Derry to defy the Orangemen and it gave them to understand that the Donegal men were not cowards.