We have so much information about Patrick Byrne that I am concerned whether this series of blog posts is going to get too much for me. John Scully made an entire book of “not the complete story” of Patrick Byrne’s life (Ah how d’you do sir, Carrickmacross 2024). But I think there is still value in me continuing to try and work through every single reference I can find about Patrick Byrne, in an attempt to trace his life story. So we will carry on here for now.
This post will cover Patrick Byrne’s activities from when he travelled back to Ireland at the end of June 1845. We will try to follow Byrne for about six months in Ireland to the end of 1845, and then for the first half of 1846 in England, and finally for the second half of 1846 touring the north of Ireland, including a very interesting paper trail of letters of introduction from aristocratic patrons.
You can get up to speed with previous episodes in Patrick Byrne’s life:
Part 1 covers Patrick Byrne’s early years and education, down to his discharge from harp school in 1822.
Part 2, looks at his early career, working for patrons in Ireland and England from 1822 to 1837.
Part 3 covers his first visit to Scotland over the winter of 1837-8, and his tour of Ireland in 1839-40.
Part 4 looks at him playing for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle, and then touring mostly in Ireland and a bit in England in 1841-4.
Part 5 covers just six months, from when he went to Scotland at the beginning of 1845 until he headed back to Belfast on 25th June, including the Waverley Ball and having his photographs taken.
In Ireland, June to December 1845
I have nothing at present between July and October 1845. It looks like Byrne may have spent this time visiting his patrons around Ireland.
On Wed 22 October 1845 we find him at Lough Fea house staying with his main patron, Evelyn John Shirley (1788–1856).
HARVEST HOME
Northern Standard, Sat 25 Oct 1845 p2
On Wednesday last, E. J. Shirley Esq., M.P., in his usual generous manner, gave a holyday to the whole of the workmen employed on his Demense, at Lough Fea, and at two o’clock, upwards of 100 Mechanics and labourers, sat down to a most substantial dinner of roast and boiled beef and mutton, with abundance of strong ale. After dinner, the good old Irish cheer, whiskey punch, and temperance cordial, was handed round in profusion; and when the health of their much esteemed employer was proposed, it was greeted with such enthusiastic and long continued cheering as I have seldom heard: the healths also of E. P. Shirley, Esq., M.P. Mrs Shirley, and the other branches of the Shirley family were severally given, and responded to with that cordiality which showed how much the workmen esteemed their benefactors. The health of George Morant, Esq., (the lately appointed agent over the Shirley Property), was drunk in a manner that plainly indicated the good feeling of all present towards him. Dancing then commenced, and was kept up with great spirit, till all seemed highly satisfied with their sumptuous entertainments, and amusements; the latter being much increased, and the meeting enlivened by the presence of the celebrated Irish harper, Mr. Byrne, whom Farney justly boasts of, as having produced one of the best of modern performers, on the national instrument.
In the evening the meeting broke up, and all separated in the best of good humour, in short it is rare to see such an assembly enjoy themselves so much and separate in so happy a state, without the slightest offence being given to any individual present.
We don’t get much information here about Byrne and what he was doing, but we do see him discharging his duty, as well as being heard and appreciated by the ordinary workmen and tenants on the estate.
By December 1845 he may have been up at Saintfield visiting his old patron Nicholas Price (1754-1847). In Patrick Byrne’s papers is a testimonial letter written for him by Price and his daughter Elizabeth Anne Blackwood (1780-1867). Of course it is possible that they wrote the letter and sent it to Byrne wherever he was staying, but I think it is more likely that these letters of recommendation were done for him when he was actually there in person.
This is to certify that Patrick Byrne has for the last twenty years been frequently attending this House , by my desire as Harper and I consider him a most respectable and well conducted man in every respect
PRONI D3531/G/1
Saintfield House
December 5th 1845
Nichs Price
Elizth A. Blackwood
It seems that the next day, Saturday 6th December 1845, Byrne travelled to Tandragee. He must have stayed with patrons, but he also did a public concert on Friday 12th December 1845. We have two different reviews of the concert:
MR. BYRNE, THE BLIND IRISH HARPER – This celebrated harper delighted the inhabitants of Tandragee, and its neighbourhood, on last Friday evening, by his performance on the harp, in the large room of the Mont de Piété, in that town. About 100 persons attended, the majority of whom were ladies; and the old melodies of “Our own Green Isle” were poured forth on the hearts of a delighted auditory by him, whose musical skill is unrivalled, from an instrument of the greatest beauty and sweetness of tone. The evening was enlivened by several songs, which were sung in good style, by Mr. Byrne; and the assembly separated, in the hope of soon again enjoying so rich a treat.
Newry Telegraph, Tue 16 Dec 1845 p3, reprinted in Vindicator, Wed 17 Dec 1845 p4
the “Mont de Piété” in Tandragee was a “charitable pawn-office, a loan fund and a bank for savings”, set up in the end of the 1830s (Henry John Porter, ‘On the Mont de Piete System of Pawnbroking in Ireland’, Journal of the Statistical Society of London, Vol 3 No 3, Oct 1840). The Mont de Piété Loan Fund is listed on Market Street in Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland, 1846 but I am not finding its location more specifically than that. It also obviously had an Assembly Room:
MUSICAL CONCERT. – MR. PATRICK BYRNE, the well-known Irish harper, has been in Tandragee for the last ten days, and performed in the Assembly-rooms of that town on Friday evening, to a highly respectable audience. The rooms were tastefully fitted up for the occasion. Precisely at seven o’clock Mr. BYRNE made his appearance, accompanied by a few friends, who conducted him to a platform erected at one end of the room; after which the concert commenced with “The harp that once through Tara’s halls,” which was followed by several other favourite Irish, Scotch, and Welsh airs. Then came some comic songs, accompanied by the harp. The audience was subsequently entertained with the story of PAUL DOGHERTY in real Irish style; after which the Harpist expressed his thanks for the kindness he received from the inhabitants during his stay among them, and concluded with “God save the Queen.” – Mr. BYRNE left Portadown yesterday morning for the residence of GEORGE CRAWFORD, Esq., Bellvieu House.
Armagh Guardian, Tue 16 Dec 1845 p2
I have mentioned before (in part 4) about “Paul Dogherty”; Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin has suggested that this could be the song “Bold Doherty” which she says was in the Oriel song tradition. On the other hand this review makes it sound more like a spoken story not a song.
Byrne must have gone from Tandragee to Portadown between Friday 12th and Monday 15th December 1845, because we are told that he left Portadown on Monday 15th to go to George Crawford’s house. At the moment I am not finding who George Crawford is or where Bellvieu House was. Hopefully at some point we will work it out and add a note at the bottom.
In England, the first half of 1846
I don’t have any records of where Patrick Byrne spent Christmas 1845. But in the Spring of 1846 he was in England. Here he is in Leamington Spa in March 1846:
MR. PATRICK BYRNE, THE IRISH HARPER. – We were delighted a few days since to light on our old friend BYRNE, – “the last of the Bards,” – and to be enabled to congratulate him on his good looks. Time has dealt lightly with the minstrel since he last visited the Spa. We had the pleasure, a few evenings since, of hearing him strike the thrilling wires of his national instrument, and we can assure our readers that his hand has lost none of its wonted power – his mind none of that native vigour, which directs him in awaking the melodies of his own green Isle. Mr. BYRNE will, we hear, remain in town for a few days, to visit those old friends who are glad to recall the historic remembrances of the bards of yore.
Leamington Spa Courier, Sat 7 Mar 1846 p2 (ref. via John Scully)
Byrne must have been aged about 50 or so by this time. He seems not to be working in the hotels any more by this stage; instead, we see him here visiting “friends” (i.e. wealthy patrons) to play private events. A week later the newspaper reports in a similar way:
MR. PATRICK BYRNE. – Now, by the life of us, we are glad to learn that our old friend, the Blind Irish Harper, is resuming his musical acquaintance with some of the most distinguished resident families of the Spa, at whose mansions he has been playing during the present week, whilst, next week, there can be no doubt that his “ould Irish” harp will be heard doing full justice to the national air of “St. Patrick’s Day,” in the elegant abodes of several of those visitants from the Sister Isle, whose names we are continually recording amongst the staunchest patrons of modern Leamington.
Leamington Spa Courier Sat 14 Mar 1846 p2
I’m sure we could collate the movements of the different aristocatic patrons such as Lord and Lady John Scott, Evelyn Shirley, the Napiers, etc. to work out who was there in March 1846 and therefore which big houses in the Warwickshire countryside Byrne was visiting.
A week later he was preparing to depart from Leamington Spa:
THE BLIND HARPER. – Mr. PATRICK BYRNE, the well-known Irish harper, has visited most of the residences of his warm-hearted patrons in this neighbourhood, and is about to take his departure from the Royal Spa, gratified by the liberal reception he has met with from those with whom he is an old, and a very deserving, favourite. It appears by the following extract, taken from Chamber’s Edinburgh Journal, that Mr. BYRNE is equally popular in Scotland, where he has recently been performing to admiring auditories: it is so flattering and yet so true a picture of the man and his performances, that we cannot do better than quote it for the gratification of many of our readers, by whom he is both well known and well respected: –
Leamington Spa Courier Sat 21 Mar 1846 p2
“A worthy representative of the fraternity…
The article continues with the quote from Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal no. 451, Sat 19 Sep 1840, p279, which describes Byrne’s private performances in Edinburgh over the winter of 1837-8 (see part 3).
One of the “residences of his warm-hearted patrons” in Warwickshire would of course included Ettington Park, the house of his main patron, Evelyn Shirley. But after Byrne left Leamington Spa, he travelled about 70 or 80km north to visit a house belonging to Earl Ferrers, a second cousin of Evelyn Shirley.
Chartley Hall is a beautiful moated manor house, standing on an artificial island next to the ruined medieval castle. It seems that the house shown in this 1930s photo was rebuilt in 1847 on the site of the older house, so I am not entirely sure what would have been there when Byrne visited in 1846, possibly this house partly through its rebuilding.
We have a letter of recommendation for Patrick Byrne written at Chartley on Friday 17th April 1846. The letter is on one sheet folded to make four pages:
Chartley Castle
PRONI D3531/G/1
Staffordshire
April 17
46
My dear Lord –
I beg to introduce
to you – Mr. Byrne – a
[famous] Irish Harper –
he has great musical
talents & tells an
Irish story capitally –
he is respectable &
well informed, tho’
he is blind & all his people
are tenants of the
Shirly [family] (Monaghan) –
Mr. [Byrne] travels about
& remains a little time
at each house – lives
in the stewards or
housekeepers room –
& is always ready to
play when sent for –
I think he [would]
[amuse] [you] [much]
& I therefore give
him this note to
present to you – I
have also given
him one to Massareene
[as] [I] [am] [sure] he
& my sister would like
to [enjoy] his music
& stories – he is
generally given a
present on leaving –
he is a protestant
Lord [W] joins me
in [best] regards
Believe me my
dear Lord ys. very
truly –
Amelia Chichester
The envelope is addressed to John O’Neill, 3rd Viscount O’Neill, at his main residence at Shane’s Castle:
The Rt: Honble
PRONI D3531/G/1
Viscount O Neill
Shanes Castle
Co Antrim
Ireland
———–
From
Lady [Ed] Chichester
Amelia Chichester was the wife of Edward Chichester, Dean of Raphoe and son of the 2nd Marquess of Donegall. In 1844, their daughter Annabella Augusta had married Washington Shirley, 9th Earl Ferrers. Now I am not quite clear about who was at which big house when; Earl Ferrers’s main house was Staunton Harold Hall in Leicestershire. We do have an undated testimonial from “Ferrers” at Chartley Castle, which says “The bearer of this Patrick Byrne is the celebrated “Irish Harper” and Private Harper to me / [seal] Ferrers / Chartley Castle / Staffordshire” (PRONI D3531/G/6), and we have later references to Patrick Byrne being at Staunton Harold. It looks like both houses were used by the family. In any case we know from this letter that Amelia, Ferrers’s mother-in-law, was staying at Chartley in April 1846.
This letter of recommendation is fascinating for the insights it gives us as to Patrick Byrne’s life visiting these big houses in England. Amelia descries Byrne travelling from one house to another, and says he “remains a little time at each house”, which we knew already from reconstructing his schedule. But she continues by saying that he “lives in the stewards or housekeepers room, & is always ready to play when sent for”. This shows us the “upstairs-downstairs” life of the big house in the 19th century. For all that Byrne is described as visiting his aristocratic “friends”, we see that he seems to be treated as a superior kind of servant; he does not get to stay with the upper-class house guests in the public part of the house, but gets the best rooms in the servants’ quarters; and it looks like he remains in the senior staff areas of the house, presumably dining with the steward or housekeeper and other senior house staff, until he is “sent for”, at which point he is “always ready to play”.
We also get the very useful little snippet of information that “he is generally given a present on leaving” – i.e. that he gets his cash payment when he has finished working at the house and is departing. Describing it as a “present” makes it all seem more Gentlemanly and less professional.
Amelia mentions in her letter to Viscount O’Neill, that she will also send a recommendation to Massareene and her sister, but I don’t think we have that letter. As usual the genealogies and lists of important people all focus on the men, and I did not find any useful list of the daughters of Henry Deane Grady and Dorcas Spread, so I have tried to make one here:
I have not found any reference to the eldest daughter.
Louisa-Dorcas was the 2nd; in 1825 she married Sir Matthew Fitzmaurice Deane, Baron Muskerry (1795–1868), and she died in 1846.
Amelia was the 3rd daughter.
Olivia was the 4th daughter. In 1835 she married John Skeffington, 10th Viscount Massareene, who the lost letter must have been written to, and who we will meet shortly.
Celia Caroline was the youngest daughter. In 1844 she married Sir David Roche (1791-1865) (his second marriage).
Back in Ireland, the second half of 1846
By June 1846, Patrick Byrne was back in Ireland. He seems to have been staying with Walter Keating at Sylvanpark, near Kells. The house was demolished in the 20th century but the stable block is still there, used by a tractor parts supplier.
This news article tells us that Patrick Byrne has come from Sylvanpark to “this town” which I think is Kells:
THE IRISH HARP.
Meath Herald, Sat 4 Jul 1846 p4
Mr. Patrick Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, en route through this town, to the north of Ireland, from the hospitable residence of Mr. Keating, of Sylvanpark, had the kindness to pay us a visit. He brought his harp with him, and never have we been so enchanted with the the notes of a stringed instrument, as while listening to the sweet music produced by this inimitable performer. His “Savourna Deelish,” “Exile of Erin,” “The Harp that once through Tara’s Hall,” “Planxty Connor,” and “Gragalmachree,” were truly delightful; and his execution of the beautiful air “Coleendhas Crootheenamoe,” was indeed the soul of music. His “Minstrel Boy” caused a feeling intrinsically melancholy to steal over our senses. His performance convinced us that our national airs are full of the highest pathos – and that the harp is the instrument best adapted for plaintive airs. Although Irish talent, of latter days, has too often passed from the cradle to the grave, unheeded by the great and wealthy, we are happy to find that much has not been the case with Mr. Byrne, as the following extract from the Greenock Advertiser of June, 1845, will testify: –
“Mr. Byrne is well known throughout the country…
…as well as with his musical abilities”
A few years ago, Chamber’s Journal, in an interesting article on Mr Bunting’s work on “the Ancient Music of Ireland,” paid a very high compliment to Mr. Byrne: –
“A worthy representative of the fraternity…
…both from its real beauty and from its association.”
In these remarks of Chambers we entirely concur, believing them to be well merited by this talented harper, and trust that he may, at some future period, visit this town, for the purpose of affording the lovers of fine music an opportunity of hearing his performance.
Here we have again the quote from Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal no. 451, Sat 19 Sep 1840, p279, which describes Byrne’s private performances in Edinburgh over the winter of 1837-8 (see part 3), but also a quote from the Greenock Advertiser, Tue 24 Jun 1845 p2 which lists his patrons including Victoria and Albert and the Scottish Lords and Gentlemen (see part 5). I assume Byrne himself was travelling with press cuttings that he could feed to the local newspapers; I have already mentioned the lost “Autobiography … (MS) with printed cuttings related to him” which was in the library at Lough Fea in 1872, and I have noticed other occasions when a good item was printed in one newspaper, and then re-printed later elsewhere as Byrne travelled on.
Anyway it is not clear if this event in Kells was a public performance or a private visit to patrons in the town; I have not found any advertisements of a public concert. It gives us an interesting tune list, though as always with this kind of report we have to think how the writer is not a traditional insider, but is selecting the tunes and titles they know from their own world. It is a kind of skewed view of Patrick Byrne’s traditional harp music.
“Savourna Deelish” is usually spelled something like “savourneen deelish”, for “’s a mhuirnín dílis”. This tune is not really alive in the tradition any more, though you can listen to Leo Rowsome playing it on the pipes. “The Exile of Erin” is an English-language song composed to the same tune. This is the song that Patrick Byrne discussed with Mary Kellett many years earlier.
“The Harp that once through Tara’s Hall” is a Thomas Moore song that is based on the traditional harp air Mailí bheag Ó; you can read my write-up of 18th century traditional Irish harp versions of this tune.
“Planxty Connor” is a title that appears in a few of the traditional harpers’ tune lists; I discuss it on my very old tune list post, and suggest it could either be John O’Connor (DOSC 114), or Charles O’Connor (DOSC 125).
“Gragalmachree” is Grá Geal Mo Croí, an English language song with an Irish final line. I think there are lots of variants; you can listen to one sung by Nora Cleary. I’m not sure if this title “Grá Geal Mo Croí” sometimes gets mixed up with “Grá Mo Croí” which can be an alternative title for Mailí bheag Ó mentioned above.
“Coleendhas Crootheenamoe” is the song air Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó which is very well known in the tradition; Irishtune.info lists loads of different recordings.
“The Minstrel Boy” is the well know Thomas Moore song, supposedly set to the traditonal tune “The Mooreen”, but as I discuss on my tune lists post, no-one seems to know the traditional air, only the Moore song version.
And so Byrne left Kells and continued his journey north. Presumably he dropped in on his sister Alice at the farm at Beagh on the way. He seems to have been headed for Antrim.
Visiting patrons in North-east Ulster, summer 1846
Presumably Patrick Byrne was carrying with him the letters of recommendation that had been written for him by Amelia Chichester, both the one to Viscount O’Neill that we looked at above, and the other that she mentions but we don’t have, to her sister Olivia’s husband at Antrim Castle.
Byrne was presumably at Antrim Castle on 7th July, when Olivia’s husband John Skeffington, 10th Viscount Massareene wrote a letter of recommendation for Byrne. The envelope and letter both have black borders. The letter reads:
Antrim Castle
PRONI D3531/G/1
July [7] 1846
My dear ONeill
Mr Burn
who will give you this
is I believe known to you
at least he will recal himself
to your recollection, he
played & sung before you
at Tullamore [many] years
ago. He plays particularly
well & tells an Irish story
also in good style. He
was sent here from Chartley
Castle & recommended by
[Ly Edd] Chichester. He is a
Protestant & goes about from
house to house & I would
be very glad if you would
[send] him on. he lives in
the Stewards room &
expects something on leaving
Yrs very truly
Massareene
[hon Vict] ONeill
The envelope is addressed:
[hon]
PRONI G3531/D/1
Viscount ONeill
Cushendun
Knock na Carry
[??]
John Skeffington obviously knew of O’Neill’s movements, and so addressed the letter to O’Neill at Rockport Lodge, Cushendun, rather than at his seat, Shane’s Castle. “Knock na Carry” is obviously a reference to the ruins of Castle Carry which stand beside Rockport Lodge. For a while I was confused, thinking it was the nearby townland of Knocknacarry.
The reference to Tullymore Lodge is very interesting; this is another O’Neill house, near Broughshand just outside Ballymena.
I think this letter is also very interesting, as part of a chain of letters from wealthy and influential aristocratic patrons. We can imagine Patrick Byrne arriving at Antrim Castle, and handing Amelia Chichester’s letter over to her brother-in-law John Skeffington, 10th Viscount Massareene, and then the letter presumably was filed in the Antrim Castle archive (the castle was burned by the IRA in 1922). I say this because if they had given the letter back to Byrne we might expect to have it in his papers; but because it is missing it may have stayed at Antrim Castle. We can see John Skeffington writing the same information in his letter to O’Neill, perhaps even copying from Amelia’s letter, though he is more blunt, saying Byrne “expects something on leaving”. Presumably he gave Byrne the letter, plus a cash gift, and sent him on his way from Antrim Castle to head for John O’Neill’s bathing and hunting lodge at Rockport.
In the absence of the private records from Antrim Castle, we can’t know how long Byrne stayed there with John and Olivia; perhaps a week or two in the beginning of July 1846. At some point Byrne left Antrim Castle and continued his journey north, and on Thursday 23rd July, we find him in Ballymena, to play at a public dinner.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AT BALLYMENA
Northern Whig Sat 25 Jul 1846 p2 (reference via John Scully), reprinted in The Irish Unitarian Magazine Tue 1 Sep 1846 p288, and abbreviated version in Coleraine Chronicle Sat 1 Aug 1846 p4
The members of the Remonstrant Congregation, in Ballymena, desirous to mark the gratification they experienced in the Synod having selected their new and handsome Meeting-House to hold its annual meeting in, fixed on the evening of Thursday, to celebrate the event by a grand public entertainment. The place chosen to hold it in was Guy’s schoool-room; and, capacious as it is in dimensions, the number of persons, members of every religious denomination in town, who were anxious to be present, almost filled it to inconvenience. The assembly, when seated to tea, which was served shortly after six o’clock, was extremely imposing in appearance; many very elegantly attired ladies presided at the tables, as well as some of our humbler, though not less handsome, countrywomen. …
…The decorations of the room were at once chaste and imposing, consisting of wreaths of laurel, interspersed with some gay flower buds, lining the walls and windows, and forming a very neat arch, in front of the temporary platform, which had been erected, at the rear of the room. Back from this arch were placed the chairs, which were afterwards taken by Wm. Gihon, Esq., who presided on the occasion, the Rev. Dr. Montgomery, and some other gentlemen. On the left of the President sat Rev. Mr. Carley, of Antrim, the Rev. Mr. Blakely, and others. To complete the arrangements, and to give the whole an effect which it would be otherwise impossible to produce, the services of Mr. Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper to Prince Albert, who happened to be in Ballymena, were engaged, and occasionally, throughout the evening, might be heard those strains which are said to have such an effect on the “pulse of the patriot, soldier, and lover.” An abundance of choice fruit was also handed round, at one stage of the proceedings; and, indeed, expense seemed to have been entirely overlooked in the management.
About seven o’clock, the tables having been cleared, Mr. Gihon ascended the platform, and took the chair amid loud cheering.
The CHAIRMAN came forward, almost immediately, and said – Gentlemen and ladies, when asked to take this Chair, I, as is usual, said, some more worthy person should be called on to fill it; but one of my young friends said, it seemed the natural position for me – so, being a little of the same opinion, I was easily persuaded, and here I am, at your service; and I promise you I will be a good listener, provided, gentlemen, you do not make your speeches too long. And, that I may not be the first to transgress in the way of speech-making, I will have done after stating that I find our young men have provided a musical treat for us, by engaging the services of Mr. Byrne. My duty, now, as Chairman, is to introduce to your notice my friends around me. Mr. Gihon then proceeded to give from the Chair the usual loyal sentiments, which were rapturously received…
Guy’s Free School was on the corner of Wellington Street and High Street, Ballymena, which is now where the entrance to the Tower Shopping Centre is.
And so Patrick Byrne continued North and finally arrived at Viscount O’Neill’s house at Rockport a couple of weeks later. Rockport is a fine house right beside the North end of Cushendun beach. I assume Byrne was staying in the senior servant’s accommodation, and would be summoned to go into the public rooms of the house to entertain the O’Neills and their house guests.
On 12th August 1846, John O’Neill, 3rd Viscount O’Neill wrote a letter of introduction for Byrne. Viscount O’Neill’s handwriting is worse than usual so I am struggling to read everything. He obviously wrote this letter very fast since he did not blot his signature and it has transferred onto the folded paper.
Rock Port Lodge
PRONI D3531/G/1
August. 12
1846
My Dear Sir
The Bearer of this
Mr Burn. wishes for an
introduct[ion] [to you] he has
[brought me] letters from
Lord Massareene & from
Lady [Edward] Chichester both
of which I enclose. he is a
most capable performer
[?Believe me?]
yours very truly
ONeill
J Magildowny Esq
The envelope is addressed to:
J Magildowny Esq
PRONI D3531/G/1
Clare Park
Ballycastle
I am especially interested to see O’Neill saying that he is enclosing the letters from Massareene and from Lady Chichester. Possibly he had made copies, but perhaps more likely he gave Byrne back the originals, bundled together with his letter, so that Byrne ended up carrying the whole chain of letters, and that might explain why at the end of his life, Byrne still had the two other letters O’Neil mentions.
Again we cannot know how long Patrick Byrne spent at Rockport Lodge, perhaps a week or two. He set off again, and on Wednesday 2nd September 1846 we find him in Ballycastle.
Mr. Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, visited Ballycastle, on his way from Lord O’Neill’s, Cushendun, and on Wednesday, the 2d instant, played there a number of excellent airs, accompanied with comic songs, which afforded much amusement to his audience. They separated after expressing their high opinion of Mr. Byrne as a musician and comic singer. – Communicated.
Coleraine Chronicle Sat 12 Sep 1846 p2
Presumably Patrick Byrne was at Clare Park visiting John McGildowney JP DL (1820-87), High Sheriff of County Antrim. Clare Park House was a Victorian mansion house on a spectacular cliff top site, unfortunately now demolished and replaced by a caravan park. I am guessing that Byrne went straight from Rockport Lodge to Clare Park, and the newspaper report is of him giving a private house concert at Clare Park rather than a public concert in town.
Again we don’t know when Patrick Byrne left Clare Park, but a two weeks after his performance we find him back in County Monaghan at Lough Fea, the Irish house of his main patron Evelyn Shirley.
Back at Lough Fea, Autumn 1846
On Wednesday 16th September 1846, the Shirleys hosted 67 upper-middle-class visitors, I think a bit like how nowadays parties of visitors would go to a National Trust property, or perhaps more like how groups book private tours of privately-owned stately homes. The visitors were guided around the different public rooms of Lough Fea house by Mrs Simms and Mr Hawkesley who I assume may have been the Housekeeper and Steward. I don’t know if Evelyn Shirley made a personal appearance or not.
Anyway the report of the visit, written the next day by “an eye witness” and sent to the newspaper, lists the names of a few of the tourists who were present, including a solicitor, a JP and a couple of coroners. The report says that after they had been shown around all the public rooms of the house,
…The visitors withdrew to a spot near the beautiful lake – to partake of the refreshments with which they were abundantly supplied – and here, where once took place “the battle of the cows,” so well known in Farney legend, did the whole party, or rather parties, enjoy their delightful pic-nic; the healthful air and scenery around giving a zest to their gastric operations. The company were soon joined by that prince of harpers, Mr. Patrick Byrne, who, having taken his post at the edge of an adjoining grove, and under the shade of a spreading ash tree, delighted the whole party, by his beautiful performances upon our national instrument. Mr. Byrne, accompanied by a gentleman amateur of the party on the violin, played some beautiful national melodies, and amused the company with several national and other songs. Dancing then commenced, and at this period of the evening the whole scene assumed rather a classic air – the party having gone through several quadrilles, country dances &c., collected in one circle, and three cheers having been proposed for Mr. Shirley and family, were most heartily given, and and a hope expressed that they might long enjoy their princely domains. Three cheers, and one cheer more, were also proposed for Mrs. Shirley and the ladies, and responded to with the most marked enthusiasm…
Newry Telegraph Tue 22 Sep 1846 p3, reference via John Scully
The gentleman amateur of the party who pulls out a violin to play along with Byrne is perhaps the most unexpected part of this story. Did the visitors know that Byrne would be there to play for them? Did Byrne know that the Gentleman was going to bring his violin along with him?
It must have been a very picturesque scene, with Byrne under the ash tree playing for the picnic beside the lake.
On 30th September 1846, there was another big event at Lough Fea. This was a public dinner for “the various tradesmen, labourers, &c. employed at Lough Fea House and demense”. The event was not held in the Great Hall of Lough Fea House, but in the “large saw-room of Derrylavin Mills (about 60 feet long by 18 feet wide, and which had been fitted up for the purpose)”. The old mill buildings are still there, currently used as a distillery.
Roast beef and vegetables and individual loaves and Castlebellingham ale were served to 125 people. Evelyn John Shirley and his wife Eliza, and their son Evelyn Philip Shirley and his wife Mary, and a couple of guests showed their faces, but “in a short time withdrew lest their presence should be a restraint” on the workers enjoying their dinner. After dinner, the leftovers were taken to the end of the room where it was served to “several poor persons”. Then:
Mr. Patrick Byrne, our native harper, of whom the Shirley estate may be justly proud, now took his seat upon a platform prepared for his reception, and, accompanied by Mr Gordon on the violin, performed, at proper intervals, appropriate national and other airs, with his own peculiar taste and effect. Abundance of punch and ale were now placed before the party, and all being in readiness, Mr. George Sudden, the “Commanding Officer” of the day, took his stand in front of the cross-table at the head of the room. The toasts of the day were then consecutively given, and description fails in expressing the enthusiasm with which they were received. The following is the order in which the toasts were proposed and drunk, each having been prefaced and introduced by suitable observations, and as suitably responded to:
Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent Thu 8 Oct 1846 p3 via John Scully
The Queen, Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family. Air – “God save the Queen.”
[E.J.] Shirley, Esq., the lord of the soil – may he long continue to enjoy his princely property, and contribute, as he has done today, towards the welfare and happiness of those upon it. Air – “The Fine Old English Gentleman.”
Mr E.P. Shirley, M.P for this county, the worthy heir apparent to the Shirley estate – may he walk in the footsteps of his father. Air – “Patrick’s Day.”
Mrs. Shirley and the Ladies. Air – “Here’s a health to all good lasses.”
Captain Charles, and Majors Arthur and William Shirley, and the other gentlemen of the Shirley family. Air – “The British Grendaiers.”
Mr. Morant, the near relative of Mr. Shirley, and the agent over his extensive estate in this barony – may he long continue to promote the interests of the landlord and tenantry, by furthering those plans of improvement which he so happily commenced upon the Shirley estates.
The following toasts also were then proposed and drunk in succession: –
Mr. George Sudden, Mr. W. G. Smith, Mr. [Brockle], Mr. W. Lane, Mr. Patrick Martin, Mrs. Simms, and the females from Lough Fea, who have by their presence and exertions contributed to the enjoyments of the day.
To this latter toast, Mr. Patrick Byrne, our native Farney harper, was called upon to speak, and this duty he performed in a manner as caustic as it was appropriate and amusing.
The concluding toast of the evening was then given:-
Farney, and the Farneymen.
…
I presume Byrne and Gordon both played the airs for the toasts. I do wonder what Byrne’s speech was, and how it was “caustic” – presumably having been raised in Greaghlone in a farming family he would have been able to speak to the workers as an equal. And it is also interesting that he is asked to speak to the Housekeeper and the female house staff, as if he had some solidarity or connection to them.
After the toasts, the people all went out into the mill yard for dancing to “the bewitching and combined strains of the sonorous bagpipe, and the merry violin”; the two Mrs Shirleys came back from Lough Fea house and went into Mr Sudden’s house at the Mills where they watched the scenes from the windows. There is no further mention of Byrne.
I also wonder whether Mr Gordon was the gentleman amateur who played at the picnic two weeks before, on Wednesday 16th September 1846? His name is not mentioned in the report of that day.
Playing the harp at a turnip-growing competition
On Friday 16th October 1846, Patrick Byrne was again playing for an estate dinner. This one is kind of interesting in its own right.
Our correspondent, writing in the Newry Telegraph Tue 3 Nov 1846 p3, explains the modern progressive improvements of the Shirley Estate, under its estate manager Mr Morant. The writer explains that, because of the failure of the potato crop over the Autumn of 1845, Mr Morant came up with the plan to switch the tenantry from potatoes to turnips. I think that the correspondent thought this was quaint and slightly amusing, but we today with the benefit of hindsight can simply be amazed at this good decision, given the appalling consequences of the failures of the potato crop in autumn 1846 and even worse in 1847.
The correspondent continues by saying how, in the spring of 1846, the Shirley estate ordered a supply of turnip seed from Liverpool, and distributed it for free to the tenants, so they could plant turnips for the 1846 growing season instead of potatoes; it seems that the tenants were also given instruction and guidance on preparing the ground and tending the crop. You can see that this would be very good for the tenants, giving them a good crop; it would also be good for the Shirley family since their fabulous wealth and enormous burn-rate was dependent on their tenants being able to pay their rents.
To encourage the maximum production, the estate ran a turnip-growing competition for the 1846 season, and two judges (brought from outside the estate) toured around all the tenant farmers of the entire estate inspecting their turnip crops.
Our event on Friday 16th October 1846 was a dinner in the Shirley Arms Hotel, at which the judges announced the allocation of cash prizes to the tenant farmers who had grown the best turnips. I think the judges were looking for the best quality crops, rather than the biggest harvest or biggest single turnip, but it is not entirely clear. The article names the nine tenant farmers who were given “first class premiums” of £2 cash each (think a few hundred nowadays); and the eight who got “second class premiums” of 10s each (a quarter of the first class premiums).
Before the presentation of the prizes, the guests were served a dinner (“it is needless to allude to the ‘bill of fare'”, says our correspondent), and then:
When the cloth was removed, the usual loyal toasts were proposed by the Chairman, and drank, it is needless to say, in a proper and becoming spirit. Then came the toasts of the evening, in the following order, namely: – “E. J. Shirley, Esq., M.P.;” “E. P. Shirley, Esq., M.P., and the other members of the Shirley family;” “George Morant, Esq.;””The Judges,” &c. Each toast having been introduced with suitable observations, was, in turn, as suitably responded to by some one or other of the party, upon whom this duty seemed most properly to devolve. Appropriate airs were struck up by Mr. P. Byrne, our native Farney minstrel, who favoured the party with his attendance on the occasion, and by his facetiousness and musical skill added much to the pleasures of the evening. One instance I shall mention as marking the presence of mind of our Farney bard. When the health of Mr Sheil, of Castleblayney, was proposed, Mr. Byrne, on the instant, struck up, to the amusement of the whole party, the air,
Newry Telegraph Tue 3 Nov 1846 p3
“Castleblayney besoms! Besoms fine and new!!
Castleblayney besoms! better never grew!!
I think this song is part of a widespread besom song tradition. We can see all the usual stuff, the Loyal toasts to the Queen, and toasts to the Landlord; I don’t think the Shirleys would have been at this event. It is not entirely clear to me exactly who was at the dinner; the correspondent mentions only “the judges, and several persons connected with the management of the estate”. We are told that Mr Morant presented the money to the winning tenant farmers “this day”, along with advice and observations on their work; but it is not clear if “this day” was at the dinner on Friday 16th October, or was a couple of weeks later on Saturday 31st October, which is the date at the bottom of the report. So I don’t know if the tenant farmers were at the hotel or not. Quite possibly not.
Writing his will, 2 Nov 1846
Patrick Byrne wrote his will at Lough Fea on 2 Nov 1846. Obviously, since he was blind, it would have been written for him. Presumably he had legal advice from someone at Lough Fea, though we can also imagine him dictating the items and the names they were to be bequeathed to. Keith Sanger found this will in the Shirley papers in Warwickshire County Record Office (CR229/box18/5). I have not seen the original, but Keith Sanger’s online transcription is very useful. We can quickly summarise the items listed and who they were bequeathed to:
First, he lists the farm at Beagh. I have already written this up. He leaves it to his sister Alice Ward. Then he deals with cash, and there is quite a lot of it. We can make a table:
| who to | amount |
| sister Alice Ward | £10 |
| Alice’s daughter Mary Ward | £15 |
| Alice’s daughter Bridget Ward | £15 |
| Alice’s youngest daughter Ann Ward | £10 |
| (half-) sister Ann Freeman | £10 |
| Ann’s daughter Margaret Freeman | £10 |
| Ann’s daughter Mary Freeman | £10 |
| Ann’s son James | £5 |
| Ann’s son Patrick | £5 |
| Ann’s son Brian | £5 |
| Ann’s son Thomas | £5 |
| (half-) brother James Byrne | £5 |
| (half-) sister Ellen Lamb | £5 |
| Total cash | £110 |
£110 in 1846 was a serious amount of money. It is very hard to calculate equivalent modern value; measuringworth.com suggests modern equivalents between about £15,000 and £500,000 depending on how you calculate it (my quick rule of thumb is to multiply amounts by a good few hundred to get an approximate modern value). And this is just his cash on hand; it did not include the value of the farm, or any other assets. Where did all this money come from? Is this the “presents” he was given after leaving the big houses? How much cash would someone like Ferrers or O’Neill give Byrne after he had spent a week at their big houses entertaining them? Is this amount of cash the reason why he wrote the will?
I also wonder about the farm, when and why he bought it, presumably he funded it out of this stupendous stash. I wondered on my write up of the farm if this was connected to an gorta mor; the failure of the harvest in Autumn 1846 was when the first deaths from starvation were recorded, though obviously not on the Shirley estates where they had all successfully switched to turnips. Obviously Byrne was well protected by his work amongst the ultra-wealth privileged elites; but there may have been concerns about the wider economy.
Anyway to finish off the items listed in the will. There are two promissory notes, one signed by half-sister Ann Freeman’s husband Michael Freeman, for £7, and one signed by half-brother James for £7. I think these notes mean that Michael and James had each borrowed £7 cash from Patrick Byrne, and the will is writing off that debt by returning the promissory notes to them.
And then there are odds and ends; his harp, a portrait of Byrne himself “which hangs in the house keepers room at Eatington Park” (I suggested in part 5 that this could possibly be one of the 1845 calotype photographs); some books – these could be the “books for the blind” that Byrne was learning to read from in Edinburgh in the winter of 1837-8 (see part 3); his Shakespeare Club medal from Stratford which he got in 1829 (see part 2); and his trunk and all his clothes (presumably this would be the trunk that had everything in it he needed when he was on tour).
There is a lot more we could extract from this will, especially Byrne’s relations to the other people named, but we can perhaps deal with them elsewhere.
It isn’t clear to me exactly what Byrne’s movements were for the rest of 1846, since we don’t have any reports. We find him going to Newry at the end of November, but where he was before or after then we are not told.
BYRNE, “THE IRISH HARPER.” – This famous minstrel, we understand, purposes visiting this town in the course of the ensuing week. The lovers of Euphony in Newry will thus be afforded a rare opportunity of hearing some of our most admired airs performed on the national instrument, by Mr. Byrne, in that style which has hitherto given so much satisfaction to all who have had the pleasure of listening to him.
Newry Telegraph Sat 21 Nov 1846 p3
I have no more references to his movements until the following February 1847 when we find him in Scotland. We can deal with that in the next installment.
I have updated my map, to include the places that Byrne was visiting in 1845 and 1846. Touch a dot to see its name, click a dot to see a little box with info about when Byrne was there.
Header image: Detail from calotype F, Scottish National Portait Gallery CC-BY-NC, taking in Edinburgh, 1845.