Daniel O’Connell
Daniel O’Connell was a popular subject for the composers of song during his lifetime. The songs and ballads were readily available in broadsheet sheets and printed in the newspapers of the day. Any great man draws admirers and critics in equal measure. The number of songs in the Binneas Collection in praise and scorn of Daniel and his achievements, if placed on a scale would balance.
‘Sé Dónall binn Ó Conaill caoin
Sa bhliain 1828 bhain Dónall Ó Conaill suíochán amach i bParlaimint na Breataine tar éis dó fothoghchán i gCo. an Chláir a bhuachtaint. Ar a theacht abhaile do chuaigh muintir Bhordóinín go léir féna choinne go barra Chúm an Chiste. B’éigean do ghasra fear dul go bun an ghleanna agus cóiste an Chonallaigh a shá i gcoinne an aoird. Bhí an file Tomás Rua Ó Súilleabháin ina measc. Deirtear go ndúirt Tomás Rua an t-amhrán seo in ómós na hócáide agus an Conallach i mullach Chúm an Chiste ag éisteacht leis.
Daniel O’Connell secured a seat in the House of Commons following a by-election in Co. Clare in 1828. On his triumphant return to South Kerry the people of Bordóinín were gathered on top of Cúm an Chiste to meet him. A group of men descended and pushed O’Connell’s coach against the steep incline. It’s said the poet Tomás Rua was amongst them. By way of marking the historic event Tomás Rua performed this song for the Liberator at the top of Cúm an Chiste.
The Kerry Eagle is a pseudonym for the Liberator Daniel O’Connell. The song below comes from a ballad sheet ref:1826-BS from the collection of the late Leslie Shepard (1917-2004) He was a world authority and prolific writer on street literature. He bequeathed much of his collection of Irish interest to the Irish Traditional Music archive. The ballad sheet was printed by G.Buchan (late Andrews), Printer,&c, 15 & 17, St Peter’s St., Leeds.
This song was printed in Chutes Western Herald on the 19th February 1835. It is of particular interest however because the composer takes a malicious delight in the misfortunes of Daniel O’Connell following a rift amongst the alliance of Irish adherents, known as ‘the tail’ in parliament.
The Last Moments of Daniel O’Connell
This song is from the collection of Broadside Ballads held by the National Library of Scotland - ‘Leabharlann na h-Alba’. It was printed by BIRT, Printer, 39, Great St. Andrew Street, Seven Dials, London. circa 1848. Daniel O'Connell, 69, died in Genoa, Italy at 9.37pm on Saturday, May 15, 1847, while making a pilgrimage to the Eternal City of Rome. When news of his death reached Ireland there was an out-pouring of grief. The verses are just one example of the many songs composed in honour of the great man.
Is mó amhrán a cumadh sa cheantar mar mholadh ar Dhónall Ó Conaill, nó an Liberator mar a thugtaí air. File dárbh ainm dó Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin a chum an t-amhrán áirithe seo tar éis don gConallach fothoghchán a bhuachtaint i gCo. an Chláir agus suíochán a bhaint amach i bParliamint na Breataine sa bhliain 1828. Meastar gur saolaíodh Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin, nó ‘Diarmuid na Bolgaí’ mar a thugtaí air, i dTuath Ó Siosta timpeall na bliana 1750. File cumasach ab ea an Súilleabhánach, gur mhair a chuid saothair ar bhéalaibh daoine go maith isteach sa 20ú aois. Maireann, chomh maith, mórán eachtraí agus scéalta grinn faoin bhfile sa bhéaloideas. Tá léiriú ar a chumas filíocht agus amhráin a chumadh as a sheasamh i gcuid mhaith dos na scéalta sin.
Songs in praise of Daniel O’Connell, the Liberator, are plentiful in the Irish tradition, both in English and Irish. This one was composed by a poet called Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin following O’Connell’s success in the Co. Clare by-election of 1828. Despite a ban on Catholics, O’Connell eventually secured a seat in the British House of Commons following this election success.