Hi Kaye, Just a guess, but could the colours referred to be colours of football teams? Was the young man a GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) football player? Green & Gold are the colours of the Leitrim County GAA team. The reference to "scarlet stripes" certainly suggests a football jersey, but the best known Red/White colours are Cork, Tyrone also red/white, but not stripes. But perhaps red stripes were used by some local football club. See www.gaa.ie for links to hundreds of county & club team web sites and their colours. Historic colours might be different from current day - you need to know what date the poem refers to. Note that Leitrim is in Connaught province (generally referred to as West), not in Ulster (North). Blue & white are on the arms of Connaught. "Kaye Payne" <kayepayne@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:0_YDf.232766$V7.195108@news-server.bigpond.net.au... > Hi, > > I am back to researching my husband's Irish relations. The following verse > written about a man who died young has just turned up regarding one of them. > I am wondering about the last line - a red cross be raised and am asking if > anyone would know why the mention of the red cross. The Northern Ireland > flag has a red cross on white and as the family came from Killargue County > Leitrim North Ireland to Australia I wonder if it refers to that flag. The > family seemed to say they came from North Ireland as opposed to Northern > Ireland. > > Kaye Payne > > He has passed from this world with its strife and its care, > From the lingering sickness which bore down his frame; > He has gone to the mansions, so bright and so fair, > Where rest, joy, and peace there never can wane. > Then grieve not for him for his soul is at rest' > In the sweet Saviour's arms in that land of the blest. > > His innocent youth, and his sweet smile has gone > And his playful jollity ne'er can return, > And the radiance glad from his countenance chase > Has now in its happiness found a new home. > Then in joy or in sorrow we'll think of his name, > And the tie of affection shall still be the same. > > As brother and comrade in black we shall mourn, > And the gay scarlet stripes shall be hid from the view, > The mark of the cross to his grave shall be borne, > And the white covered o'er by the apron of blue. > Then in green or in gold let his body be placed, > And over his headstone, a red cross be raised. > >