Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-07-15
IRISH POET
Has Been Selected to Trans
late Welsh Hymn Into
English.
Alfred Percival Graves Is One
of the worlds Leading
Lyrists.
Born i'm Dublin But Always
Claimed Kerry as His
Home.
COMPHMENTED BY TENNYSON

Alfred Perceval Graves, who has
translated the Welsh hymn which
will be sung at the investiture of the
Prince of Wales next fall, is a noted
Irish scholar and author of the
rollicking song, Father O'Flynn."
Mr.. Graves has secured front place
in the ranks of Irish Wrists. He was
born in Dublin on July %, 1S45, but
came from an old Limerick family
noted for its erudition and literary
talent. His grandfather was John
Crosbie Graves, for many years
Chief Magistrate and Chief Commits
sioner of Police in Dublin. His
father was the Right Rev. Dr..
Charles Graves. late Episcopal
Bishop of Limerick. He was one of
the most scholarly men of his time
in that church. He was a noted
Irish antiquary. The late DR.. Robert
Percival Graves, an uncle of Alfred,
was sub-dean of the Chapel Royal
and was known as a poet and biog-
rapher. Arnold Graves, the great
authority on technical education in
Ireland, and Charles Larcom Graves,
noted London journalist, are broth
ers of Alfred p. Graves.
As a mere boy Alfred was thrown
in companionship with Wordsworth,
Mrs. Hemans and other noted poets
and imbibed taste for literature.
Association with the English authors
only made him more thoroughly
Irish. At an early age he entered
Trinity College and in the course of
a very successful university career
obtained first class honors in classics
and English literature, won the uni
vorsity scholarship of classics, car
ried off the medal of the Philosophi-
cal Society for poetry, and in 1871
graduated with the degree of B. A.
In those days he was frequent
contributor to the Dublin magazines.
After leaving the university Mr..
Graves went to London and was
given a clerkship in the Home Office.
During his leisure hours he wrote for
the leading London magazines. His
first volume of poems, "Songs of
Killarney" was published in 1873.
ITO my father and mother" he
wrote, 81 affectionately dedicate
this, my first volume of poems" In
the preface he also wrote that the
collection Of songs is the result of
many happy acquaintance with the
Kerry peasantry of the beautiful
country that is their home and
mine" The book was received with
great favor by the press of England,
ireland and America, and brought |
the author encouragement and COM
mendation from such distinguished
authors as Tennyson, Sir Samuel
Ferguson, William Allingham.
Charles Lever, Prof. Dowden and
Dion Boucicault.
In 1880 he published songs and
ballads. In 1883 he published |
Songs of Old Ireland" In this was
Father O'Flynn." and all were set
to Irish airs. Sir Charles Santley
took fancy to the words and tune
and on the first occasion he sang
the lyric at a ballad concert in
London 1t was received with wild
applause, and the enraptured audi
ence made him repeat II four times.
In his songs and ballads Mr..
Graves gives us many tender and
idyllic pictures of peasant life in
ireland, and the intimate knowledge
he displays OF the loves and sorrows,
the passions. the thoughts and feel
ings Of the Irish peasant are the re-
suit of profound and, above all,
sympathetic study of the curious
and many-sided characteristics and
uncertain ways Of the inhabitants Of
the hills and valleys OF the south or
Ireland.