Carolan's Death
O Carolan bas-relief
This memorial to O Carolan was presented to St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin by a Lady Morgan. It is in the north aisle of the church. It depicts a seated O Carolan playing the harp.
Reproduced from out of copyright sourceO Carolan bas-relief
This memorial to O Carolan was presented to St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin by a Lady Morgan. It is in the north aisle of the church. It depicts a seated O Carolan playing the harp.
Reproduced from out of copyright sourceCarolan's Harp, Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
This is a photograph of Carolan's harp which is in Clonalis House in Castlerea in county Roscommon. Many felt that Carolan's late start in learning the harp meant he never mastered the instrument thoroughly. However, his compositions and verse accompaniments and his ability to entertain made him very popular.
Courtesy of Fáilte Ireland photographic sectionCarolan's Harp, Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
This is a photograph of Carolan's harp which is in Clonalis House in Castlerea in county Roscommon. Many felt that Carolan's late start in learning the harp meant he never mastered the instrument thoroughly. However, his compositions and verse accompaniments and his ability to entertain made him very popular.
Courtesy of Fáilte Ireland photographic sectionCarolan's Farewell to Music
When Carolan felt his death was near he returned to the house of his patron Mrs MacDermott Roe at Alderford. He composed and played his final piece of music there called Carolan's Farewell to Music. Carolan died in March 1738.
Courtesy of Dearbhail Finnegan
Writing to a friend after Carolan's death O Connor's sense of loss is evident: "When will Carolan appear? I long for his resurrection. In his lifetime he and I had many serious and many bagatelle conversations. Ludicrous tales made him happy, and my supplying him with many made me a great favourite with him."
Anglo-Ireland felt his loss also. In 1740, two years after Carolan's death, the Dublin poet Laurence Whyte lamented his passing in a poem on Italian and Irish music. The poet regards Carolan as irreplaceable and sees the native tradition which he represented as outmoded.
He saluted Carolan thus:
The greatest genius in his way An Orpheus, who could sing and play, So great a Bard where can we find Like him illiterate, and blind.
Carolan's harp can be seen in Clonalis House, Castlerea.
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