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COMÓRADH CÉAD BLIAIN CHEATHARLACH A CARLOW CENTENARY COMMEMORATION KEVIN BARRY AGUS AN TRAIDISIÚN BÉIL AND THE ORAL TRADITION KEVIN BARRY AT BELVEDERE COLLEGE, COURTESY OF THE BARRY FAMILY FRONT COVER: KEVIN BARRY AT 2 YEARS OF AGE, COURTESY OF THE BARRY FAMILY CLÁR ÁBHAIR: TABLE OF CONTENTS: Réamhrá an Chathaoirligh Cathaoirleach’s Foreword 3 Coiste Comórtha Céad Bliain Carlow County Council Chomhairle Contae Cheatharlach Centenaries Committee 4 Kevin Barry agus an Traidisiún Béil Kevin Barry and the Oral Tradition le Dave Barron by Dave Barron 5 Amlíne maidir le Kevin Barry Kevin Barry Timeline 15 AmhráinCATHAOIRLEACHS’ FOREWORD Songs 17 Comhtéacs na nAmhrán 3 Context of the Songs 34 CARLOWNa Daoine a Ghlac COUNTY Páirt COUNCIL CENTENARIESThe People Involved COMMITTEE 35 Foinsí Taighde 30 Research Sources 37 KEVIN BARRY AND THE ORAL TRADITION An Turas The Journey 38 41 KEVIN BARRY TIMELINE 46 THE SONGS 57 THE PARTICIPANTS 110 SOURCES AND REFERENCES 130 OTHER EVENTS 141 - 2 - RÉAMHRÁ AN CHATHAOIRLIGH CATHAOIRLEACH’S FOREWORD CLLR. CHARLIE MURPHY, CHAIR OF THE CENTENARIES COMMITTEE As THANKSCathaoirleach of TOCarlow THE County BARRY Council, it isFAMILY my pleasure to support the production of Kevin Barry and the Oral Tradition and accompanying booklet. As a Carlow man I feel it is vitally importantTHANKS to recognise TO the THEpart Kevin CARLOW Barry played in PEOPLE/GROUPthe history of our county and country. Kevin was just 18 years old when he bravely went to his death on that early morning in November 100 years ago. He was a student, a sports player, a friend to many, a brother and a son. He was a native of our small county who made a big impact on our country and continues to inspire and influence debate on that difficult period of Irish history. I wish to acknowledge the work of all those involved in this Decade of Centenaries project delivered in spite of the current demanding circumstances. Their passion, commitment and enthusiasm to acknowledge and assess the cultural influences on that young man growing up in Tombeagh, Rathvilly has bared fruit in this wonderful production showcasing the best of local talent. Cllr. Tom O’Neill, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council. As Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Centenaries Committee, I have overseen the Decade of Centenaries Programme since the committee was established and it is my pleasure to contribute to this great endeavour as part of the programme for 2020. Over the last number of years Carlow County Council has represented the Decade of Centenaries through thoughtful, respectful and appropriate programmes where the events of that period of Irish and Carlow history have been acknowledged and commemorated in a considered fashion. This year is no different. Kevin Barry and the Oral Tradition complimented by the other notable events and conversations being delivered on behalf of the Committee are a credit to all those involved. In many ways we are entering the most difficult part of the decade and it is important to commemorate our history in a way that inspires both pride but also thoughtful reflection. The culture of the period and the legacy of its influence must be central to any current or future programme of study, remembrance and reflection. Cllr. Charlie Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Centenaries Committee - 3 - COISTE COMÓRTHA CÉAD BLIAIN CHOMHAIRLE CONTAE CHEATHARLACH: CARLOW COUNTY COUNCIL CENTENARIES COMMITTEE An Comhairleoir Charlie Murphy, Cathaoirleach Choiste Comórtha Céad Bliain Cllr. Charlie Murphy, Chair of Centenaries Committee An Comhairleoir Andrea Dalton Cllr. Andrea Dalton An Comhairleoir Arthur McDonald Cllr. Arthur McDonald An Comhairleoir Brian O'Donoghue Cllr. Brian O'Donoghue An Comhairleoir Fergal Browne Cllr. Fergal Browne An Comhairleoir Fintan Phelan Cllr. Fintan Phelan An Comhairleoir John McDonald Cllr. John McDonald An Comhairleoir John Murphy Cllr. John Murphy An Comhairleoir John Pender Cllr. John Pender An Comhairleoir Ken Murnane Cllr. Ken Murnane An Comhairleoir Michael Doran Cllr. Michael Doran An Comhairleoir Tom O'Neill Cllr. Tom O'Neill An Comhairleoir Tommy Kinsella Cllr. Tommy Kinsella An Comhairleoir John Cassin Cllr. John Cassin Na daoine seo a leanas a sholáthraíonn seirbhís don Choiste: Committee facilitated by: Pat Delaney, Stiúrthóir Seirbhíse/Director of Service John Shortall, Leabharlannaí Contae/County Librarian - 4 - KEVIN BARRY AGUS AN TRAIDISIÚN BÉIL KEVIN BARRY AND THE ORAL TRADITION WRITTEN BY DAVE BARRON I’ve a sad but true story to relate I’ve a sad but true story to relate Of a brave young Irishman’s cruel fate. Of a brave young Irishman’s cruel fate. It is written down in the roll of fame It is written down in the roll of fame And Kevin Barry is the brave lad’s name And Kevin Barry is the brave lad’s name Bailéad Sráide Street Ballad Faoin am ar cuireadh Kevin Barry chun báis ar an 1 When Kevin Barry was executed, on November 1st, Samhain 1920, bhí neart déanta aige le linn na 18 1920, he had packed a lot of living into his eighteen mbliana a chaith sé ar an saol seo. Bunaithe ar a ndúirt agus ar ar scríobh sé, agus bunaithe ar a years on this earth. From his own comments and ndúirt a theaghlach agus a chairde, tá a fhios againn letters, from comments of family and friends, we gur imir sé rugbaí agus iománaíocht, gur bhreá leis know that he played rugby and hurling, he loved rince, gur bhain sé leas as ragús óil lena chairde, agus dancing, he enjoyed socialising with his friends and as comrádaíocht na seisiún ceoil. Ba chosúil go n- the camaraderie of sing-songs. He had a promising éireodh go maith leis ina ghairm liachta agus bhí medical career before him, as well as potential for a seans ann go rachadh sé le polaitíocht. Cén fáth, mar political career. So, why did he, gladly, give it all sin, ar chuir sé an t-iomlán amú? Cén fáth ar thug sé away, why sacrifice such a full and promising life for saol a raibh sásamh ann agus a raibh gealladh faoi ‘Ireland’? suas 'ar son na hÉireann'? he Influence of the Oral Tradition ionchar an Traidisiúin Bhéil Cad a d'imir tionchar ar a phearsantacht, cad What influences moulded his character, gave T him the principles and the physical and T a thug na prionsabail dó agus cá bhfuair sé an misneach fisiciúil agus morálta le dul i mbun troda i moral courage to engage in conflict with the forces gcoinne fhórsaí Impireacht na Breataine agus a of the British empire, and, to sacrifice his life and his bheatha agus a thodhchaí a thabhairt ar son na future for those same principles? bprionsabal céanna sin? Since his father died when Kevin was six years old, Ó fuair a athair bás nuair a bhí Kevin sé bliana d'aois, we must look at the other influences that helped ní mór dúinn scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na tionchair eile shape the personality for the next twelve years of his a chuaigh i bhfeidhm ar a phearsantacht sa chéad life, in ‘the Wicklow neck of Carlow where truly it all dhá bhliain déag eile dá shaol, 'sa chuid sin de began’ (O’Donovan, nephew and biographer). These Cheatharlach a bhfuil Cill Mhantáin thart included his mother Mary (nee Dowling) who had uirthi' (O'Donavan, a nia agus a bheathaisnéisí). I two relatives killed in 1798 and was family-linked to measc na dtionchar a chuaigh i bhfeidhm air, bhí a Michael Dwyer, his older sister Kathy (Kitby) who mháthair Mary (Dowling roimh phósadh), ar maraíodh beirt ghaol léi i 1798 agus a raibh baint ag was one of the leaders in the struggle for liberty, the a teaghlach le Michael Dwyer, a dheirfiúr níos sine housekeeper and family friend in their Dublin house Kathy (Kitby) a bhí ar dhuine de na ceannairí sa troid (Kate Kinsella) with her rebel connections, songs and ar son na saoire, an coimeádaí tí agus cara an stories, the curriculum of his school in Rathvilly, teaghlaigh ina dteach i mBaile Átha Cliath (Kate with Ned O’Toole as principal, and the themes of the Kinsella) a raibh ceangal aici le reibiliúnaigh, scéalta songs and stories he heard as he grew, especially agus amhráin, curaclam a scoile i Ráth Bhile, áit a those he heard at the Rambling House sessions in raibh Ned O'Toole ina phríomhoide, téamaí na n- the parlours of the family homes around Tombeagh, amhrán agus na scéalta a chuala sé agus é ina ghasúr, Rathvilly. While his attendance with sister Kathy at a go háirithe iad a chuala sé ag na seisiúin cheoil sa the Manchester Martyrs Commemoration Concert in Teach Airneáin agus i bparlúis na dtithe teaghlaigh 1915 was influential in him joining na Fianna, there - 5 - ina dteach i mBaile Átha Cliath (Kate Kinsella) a raibh can be little doubt that the family lore and the ceangal aici le reibiliúnaigh, scéalta agus amhráin, songs he heard, especially from Kate Kinsella, in curaclam a scoile i Ráth Bhile, áit a raibh Ned O'Toole school, and at the Rambling House sessions ina phríomhoide, téamaí na n-amhrán agus na scéalta around the local firesides contributed greatly to a chuala sé agus é ina ghasúr, go háirithe iad a chuala shaping the thinking of the young Kevin. As sé ag na seisiúin cheoil sa Teach Airneáin agus i O’Donovan notes, Kevin was ‘nurtured on tales of bparlúis na dtithe teaghlaigh ar fud Thom Beithe, the Battle of Hacketstown, the pursuit of Michael Ráth Bhile. Cé gur thug an Cheolchoirm Comórtha do Dwyer in the Wicklow mountains, the hounding to Mhairtírigh Mhanchain, ceolchoirm ar fhreastail sé uirthi in éineacht lena dheirfiúr Kathy i 1915, air dul death of Parnell, and the vivid recollections of Kate leis na Fianna, is beag an baol go ndeachaigh seanchas Kinsella’.