“Granua's Lament for the Loss of her Blackbird Mitchel the Irish Patriot”

Description

Granua sings "My Blackbird's banished to a foreign isle ... John Mitchel brave is my Blackbird's name," tried with Reilly and Meagher and sentenced by Baron Lefroy to be transported for 14 years. O'Connell died in '47. Mitchel was transported in '48

Notes

From National Library of Scotland commentary on broadside NLScotland RB.m.143(013), "Shiel's Rights of Man": "Granua (also spelt Grainne). The daughter of the mythical Irish warrior and folk hero, Finn McCool, Granua is also used as a symbol for Ireland - much like the figure of Britannia is employed as a symbol for Great Britain." - BS

For background on Mitchel, see the notes to "John Mitchel." - RBW

Historical references

  • May 27, 1848 - Judge Thomas Lefroy sentences John Mitchel (source: Zimmermann)

Cross references

Broadsides

  • Bodleian, Harding B 11(389), "The Blackbird" ("Come all you Irishmen both great and small"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also 2806 b.10(56), "The Blackbird"

References

  1. Zimmermann 60, "Granua's Lament for the Loss of her Blackbird Mitchel the Irish Patriot" (1 text)
  2. BI, Zimm060

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1848 (Zimmermann)