Aodhagán Ó Rathaille

• References:
  • The Poems of Egan O'Rahilly, eds. Rev. Patrick S. Dineen and Tadhg O'Donoghue, 2nd edn, London, 1911, reprinted 1965.
  • An Duanaire, 1600-1900: Poems of the Dispossessed, Seán Ó Tuama and Thomas Kinsella, Dublin, 1981.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Irish Writers, Edward O'Reilly, Dublin, 1820.
  • Aodhagan O Rathaille, Seamus O hAodha, Dublin, 1925, [St.Pats] 891.6213/ORA/OHA.
  • Four notable Kerry poets, Rev. Patrick S. Dineen, Dublin, 1929, [St.Pats] 891.621/DIN.

from the [Kenmare Manuscripts] estate accounts: "Allowed Egan O'Rahilly when his only cow was appraized last winter, 1726, by James Curtayne. For composing songs for Master Thomas Browne" [the future 4th Viscount Kenmare] "and the rest of his Lordship's children. As per song appears as voucher .. at John Rierdane's prayer and request £1 10s", Aug 1727,

died c.1729, age c.54 yrs,
see his deathbed poem (referred to in the poem The Curse of Cromwell by Yeats),
bur Muckross Abbey, Killarney, Co.Kerry,
memorial slab in the nave of the church at Muckross Abbey said to have been erected by his nephew Dónall 'ac Murchadha ó Rathaille, who was later buried with him, RHS corner facing up the nave toward the tower, shown in [Dineen and O'Donoghue, 1911], see photo,
the Gaelic inscription was translated by the Ordnance Survey c.1840 as "This tomb belongs to the race of Daniel son of Morgan Rahily from Raheen" and is now indecipherable,
had issue:

1. (dau) O'Rahilly, born est c.1710,
   mar --- Moynihan, of Knockanerebul, and had issue.

2. (dau) O'Rahilly, younger daughter,
   lived at Stagmount,
   died unmarried at Stagmount in her father's lifetime.

   "Everyone whom I interviewed stated that Egan had no sons" [The O'Rahilly, 12th Aug 1910].

the poet is claimed to have had illegitimate issue:

1. (son) O'Rahilly, had issue:
   1. Patrick Rahilly,
      the "Rake outrageous O'Rahilly", the eccentric scholar, born c.1735,
      see [Dineen and O'Donoghue, 1911],
      schoolmaster, and private tutor,
      said to be grandson of the poet, ".. of having been in my juvenile days intimately acquainted with his grandson, Mr.Patrick Rahilly" [Dominick Ronayne MP, Irish Monthly Magazine of Politics and Literature, Jan 1834], article reprinted in the Cork Journal 1917,
      died c.1810, age 75 yrs.

The poet's grave, Muckross Abbey

Location of O'Rahilly tomb.
Photo 2000. See larger and full size.
Light adjusted digitally. See original.

Location of O'Rahilly tomb.
Photo 2000. See larger and full size.
Light adjusted digitally. See original.

Location of O'Rahilly tomb, Muckross Abbey. Restoration work going on.
The grave is in the far RHS corner. See full size.
See also shot of LHS wall.
Photos 2006. Photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys.

"Stadfadsa feasta - is gar dom éag gan mhoill
ó treascradh dragain Leamhan, Léin is Laoi;
rachad 'na bhfasc le searc na laoch don chill,
na flatha fá raibh mo shean roimh éag do Chríost."

"I will stop now - my death is hurrying near
now that the warriors of the Laune, Lein and Lee are destroyed;
I will follow the beloved among heroes to the grave,
those princes under whom were my ancestors before the death of Christ."

- The deathbed poem (c.1729) of Aodhagán Ó Rathaille.

The air O Rathaille's Grave

• The album Stony Steps (trad, 1987) by Matt Molloy has an air called O Rathaille's Grave (instrumental, no lyrics).
  • Short sample of O Rathaille's Grave:

  • See also the song "My Love: The O'Rahilly"

Irish language

• Irish language (and here)
  • the old Gaelic Script
  • new alphabet

• Irish dictionaries (and here and here)
  • Irish-English dictionary
  • GAELIC-L Irish-English dictionary (or via here)
  • Can use search to implement an English-Irish dictionary.

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