The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-04-01
THE LAST BARD.
Incidents in the Career of Turlough
OCarolan, the Last Of the
Irish Minstrels.
AN UNCOMPROMISING REBEL,
John Mitchell, the Young Irelander,
Who Was Transported to
Van Diemens Land.

Van Diemen's Land.
DR.. Madden, the historian Of the Uni
ted Irishmen, relates the following Incl
dents in the life of O. 'Carolan, the last of
the Irish bards:
Turlougn, or Terence O'Carolan was
born in 1910, at Nobber, in Westmeath.
He married Mary MacGuire, and had six
daughters and one son. He diedin 1913.
Mrs. MacDermot Roe, of Alderford,
county of Roscommon, was Carolan's
first patroness, when a fugitive boy from
his native place. She had him instructed
with her own children, and when, in his
eighteenth year, he was deprived of sight
by the smallpox, his kind friend had him
taught the harp. When he determined
to adopt miDstrel's calling for his pro-
fession, his benefactress provided him
with horse aud attendant, and from
this period he became a wandering min
strel.
Carolan, it is said, had no taste for
music in his youth; but after his loss of
sight from smallpox, it became custo-
mary for some member of the family, or
neighbor, to lead him to the top of an
ancient moat, or rath, whore In former
days he had often rambled. For hours
he would lie on the grass stretched on
his back with his face to the sun, and
here were composed and sung his first
songs, with no listeners save the wild
birds in the wood.
Throughout every part Of Ireland the
blind bard became renowned, and for
more than half a century was welcome
visitor to every home. At last. after fifty
years Of wandering, he returned to Alder
ford, the asylum of his youth to her
who had been his early friend, and had
supplied him with his first harp. Mrs.
MacDermot Roe was then in her eight
eth year, and was delighted to receive
into her hospitable house the declining
bard. At Alderford he died; but before
he hung up his harp in the old hall for
the last time, he stretched forth his fee
BILE fingers over the strings, and played
his Farewell to Music"
Hugh O'Donnell told me that Carolan
composed his famous soug, 'Tbe Hawk
of Ballyshannon," in praise Of his grand
father, Hugh O'Donnell, who married
daughter of The O'Conor Don, and in
celebration of the O'Donnells of the
North. but had in the latter verses of the
song included some mention of the
ODonnelPs If Mayo, and thus included
that branch in the panegyric of the Tyr
eonnen O'Donnells, the lineal descendant
of whom, Hugh, he desgnates as the
"Hawk of Ballyshannon."
This association gave offense to Hugh,
the head of the Tyrconnell family, then
resident at Larkfeld, in the county of
Leitrim, near Manorhamilton, where that
family had established themselves not
long after their expulsion from their
own territory in the county of Donegal.
In consequence OF this offense Carolan
was expelled from Larkield; but the
bard, desirous OF making his peace, took
his station on the roadside on large
stone, still in statu quo, and known by
the name of the Big Byer. With his harp
beside him, he there awaited the coming
of O'Donnell, to make his peace, and on
his approach the bard cried out aloud:
"If you are, living, Tyrco4nell, that is
your
O'Donnell rode along, accompanied by
Billy Bartley, on his way to Manorham-
i]ton, and, seeing Carolan, forbade HIM
to enter Larkfeld. Thereupon the bard
threw himself on his knees and suppli-
Gated forgiveness. O'Donnell then bade
him go to the house and make his peace
with its mistress. The bard did as he
was commanded, and on entering the
mansion recognized the footsteps Of that
lady, and accosting her, said:
II recognize the footsteps of the Count
ess of Tyrconnell, and come to make
my peace with her." "
The lady would not be appeased, how
ever, and poor Carolan remained at the
door. with the harp beside him, in his
usual attitude, his head leaning on his
hand, till O'Donnell returned home,
when he was again received in favor,and
according to the custom of those times,
entertained Hospitality. The bottle was
called for, and Billy BARLEY presented
bumper, which the bard drank to the
health Of the noble Tyroonnell.
In the evening he sung The Hawk of
Ballyshannon,' as il now stands, to the
exclusive praise Of the Tyrconneli fam-
M, and ever after was 3 welcome guest
asrkfield