Original: The song is dedicated to a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly, who was deported to Australia because of his poetry From the liner notes on the U2 album "Rattle and Hum".
Simplified: The song remembers a Fenian poet named John Boyle O'Reilly. He was sent to Australia because of his poetry From the liner notes on the U2 album "Rattle and Hum".