The Irish standard., 1914-10-10

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The Harp Festival was held in
Belfast in July, 1892, on the same
day as the great review of the Irish
Volunteers and demonstration in
favor of Catholic Emancipation, says
the Irish World.
Belfast was then in sympathy with
the aims of the French Revolution.
The banners carried in procession on
that day were embelmatic of Ameri-
ca and France, the countries which
had achieved Republican liberty. The
town swarmed with country delega-
lions, and famous political leaders
were to be seen at every turn. Most
notable amongst these were Theo-
bald Wolfe Tone, who was destined
to incite the launching of three for
eign invasions against England and
to die at last in a prison cell.
His First Collection of Irish Airs.
Ill SI1dA6O VVAI1 Q0I W tAO INCA tAeSA
processionists and the political ora
tors was the group of old harpers,
mostly blind men, who sat on plat
form in the chief Assembly Hall of
the town. For three days they played
tune after tune, whilst the music
loving judges listened and Edward
Bunting busily jotted down notes.
During the next few years he fol-
lowed in the track of the most i'm
portant and interesting of these old
harpers, and in 1894 published a
collection of airs. This volume it
was which gave inspiration to Thorn
as Moore for his Irish Melodies"
Belfast in 1898 was centre of
revolution, and Edward Bunting was
in the thick Of it. yet not implicated.
He had resided since childhood with
the McCracken family, of whom
Henry Joy McCracken became leader
of the Northern insurgents, and died
upon the scaffold.
His sister, Mary McCracken, and
his elder brother. continued to help
Bunting with his life-work, and after
their tragic bereavement doubtless
found help and healing in the sweet
tones of music which their friend
wakened from the keys of the piano.
echoing and initiating the strains of
the old harpers.
In 1902 the McCrackens assisted
Bunting to send Gaelic scholar, one
Patrick Lynch, into the most remote
parts of Connacht to collect Gaelic
songs, Of which Lynch took down the
words. and Bunting following in his
track, took the melodies.
Emmet's Instruction Frustrated
Their Designs.
In 1903, Robert Emmett, encour-
aged by groundless expectations Of
help from Bonaparte, attempted
another instruction in Ireland. En-
met was arrested and executed in
Dublin. The story Of his love for
Sarah Curran has been immortalized
by Washington Irving in "The Brok-
en- Heart" and in certain of Thomas
Moore's most touching songs. The
Emmett rising strangely enough af-
fected the fortunes of the Belfast
musical circle. and perhaps was in
strumental in frustrating their de-
signs.
Thomas Russell, very dear friend
of the McCracken family, had been a
political prisoner during the ninety
eight rising. On his release he was
sent to exile in France. and in the
summer of 1903 returned in dis
guise to the neighborhood of Bel
fast with view to rousing the
Northern men to aid the designs of
Robert Emmett. When the failure
came he was an outlaw, with price
upon his head. Mary McCracken
visited him in his refuge among the
hills near Belfast, and tried to ar
range for his flight. Edward Bunt-
ing, though in no way mixed up in
the political plots Of the time, proved
true friend, and went to interview
Russell also. though he thus ran con-
siderable risk.
The fugitive escaped to Drogheda
and ON to Dublin by sea, but was ar.
rested and brought back to the NORTH
for trial. He was put in the dock ir
Downpatrick charged with high
treason, and the man called into the
witness box to identify him was nc
} other than Patrick Lynch, the Gaelic
scholar. who had collected the Irish
words for songs for Bunting. Lynch
. was after this completely out Of favor
with the McCracken family. and Il
: was possible because Of the part thai