“Brennan on the Moor”

Description

Irishman Brennan, perhaps in revolt against the English, turns robber in the hills. After various escapades, he is captured, only to be freed by a blunderbuss smuggled in by his wife. At last, betrayed by a woman, he is taken and hanged

Historical references

• 1804 - Hanging of William Brennan, a highwayman who worked in County Cork

Cross references

• cf. "Charlie Quantrell" (tune & meter, theme, lyrics)

Broadsides

• Bodleian, Harding B 11(3014), "Brennan On the Moor," J.O. Bebbington (Manchester), 1858-1861; also 2806 c.8(304), Firth b.26(276), Harding B 11(2135), 2806 b.9(178), Firth c.17(11)[some words illegible], 2806 b.9(242), Harding B 11(3014)[some words illegible], Harding B 11(443), Harding B 11(442), Harding B 19(26), "Brennan On the Moor"; 2806 b.10(112)[some words blurred], "Bold Brannan"; Harding B 11(365), 2806 c.15(240), Harding B 11(364), "Bold Brennan on the Moor"; Harding B 26 (341), "A Lament on the Execution of Captain Brennan"
• LOCSinging, as101620, "Brennen on the Moor," Horace Partridge (Boston), 19C
• NLScotland, L.C.1270(015), "Brennan On the Moor," unknown, c. 1880; also APS.4.95.15(4), "Bold Brannan on the Moor" ("The first of my misfortunes was to list & desert"), unknown, n.d.

Recordings

• The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "Brennan on the Moor" (on IRClancyMakem02)
• William Jacob Morgan, "Brennan on the Moor" (AFS, 1946; on LC55)
• Neil Morris, "Willie Brennan" (on LomaxCD1705)

References

1. Laws L7, "Brennan on the Moor"
2. Ford-Vagabond, pp. 245-246, "Bold Brannan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Belden, pp. 284-286, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text plus a reference to 1 more)
4. Randolph 176, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
5. Creighton/Senior, pp. 236-237, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Mackenzie 124, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
7. Flanders/Brown, pp. 98-99, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
8. Leach, pp. 745-747, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
9. Ives-DullCare, pp. 126-127,242-243, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. SharpAp 135, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Friedman, p. 371, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
12. FSCatskills 110, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
13. Scott-BoA, pp. 264-266, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
14. Hodgart, p. 204, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
15. Kennedy 315, "Brennan's on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
16. OLochlainn-More 73, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text, 1 tune)
17. O'Conor, p. 59, "Brennen on the Moor" (1 text)
18. Darling-NAS, pp. 103-106, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
19. Silber-FSWB, p. 325, "Brennan On The Moor" (1 text)
20. DT 421, BRENMOOR
21. ADDITIONAL: Kathleen Hoagland, editor, One Thousand Years of Irish Poetry (New York, 1947), pp. 250-252, "Brennan on the Moor" (1 text)
22. Roud #476
23. BI, LL07