Patrick Byrne part 4: 1841-4

In Part 1, I wrote about Patrick Byrne’s early years and education, down to his discharge from harp school in 1822. Then in Part 2, we looked at his early career, working for patrons in Ireland and England from 1822 to 1837. Part 3 covered his first visit to Scotland over the winter of 1837-8, and his tour of Ireland in 1839-40.

By the beginning of 1841, Patrick Byrne was in his mid 40s. His regular job at the Royal Hotel in Leamington Spa had given him access to high-ranking aristocratic patrons in England and Scotland, and he spent time visiting them at their houses around Warwickshire and near Edinburgh, as well as maintaining a circuit of patrons in Ireland. He seems to have deliberately built these networks of patronage, so that by the beginning of 1841 he got as high as he ever could, by performing for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.

Windsor Castle

I don’t at present know how Patrick Byrne got invited to go to Windsor Castle, or when he travelled or where he stayed. I don’t know if he would have stayed at the castle, or in a hotel in the town.

Victoria had become Queen on 20 June 1837, aged 18; after that she moved her household into Buckingham Palace, but she also spent a lot of time at Windsor Castle. She married Albert on 10 February 1840, and their first child was born on 21 Nov 1840. Victoria and Albert were both keen musicians, playing piano and singing together. They spent every Christmas at Windsor, where they had their famous candle-lit Christmas trees. Their first Christmas together at Windsor was December 1840, and they stayed at Windsor Castle almost to the end of January 1841, when they returned to Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria wrote into her diary on Wednesday 6th January 1841, at Windsor Castle:

[after a discussion of political papers,]
Went up to see our little girl, where Albert joined me. He then read to me, & we sang, amongst other things one of his latest compositions, which is beautiful. — Anson, L^d Wriothesley Russell & the Rev: M^r Conning dined. L^d Melbourne sat next to me, & we talked of many things. After dinner a blind Irish Harpist, played some Irish airs on the real old Irish Harp, which is a very peculiar instrument. The Harpist, named Byrne, lost his sight as a boy, from the results of smallpox.

Queen Victoria’s Journals, (Princess Beatrice’s Copies). vol 11 p9-10, Wed 6th Jan 1841

Lord Melbourne was Prime Minister at this time. I tried to track down the others; Lord Wriothesley Russell is obvious enough. I think Anson may be Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield. I am not sure who Rev. Mr. Canning (or Conning) was.

I find it very interesting that Victoria recognises that Patrick Byrne’s traditional wire-strung instrument as “the real old Irish harp”; and even more fascinating that she comments that it “is a very peculiar instrument”. She, as a good classical musician, obviously perceived its very different sonority and the very different structural features of the traditional Irish harp music.

However it seems that Byrne was not there to play for Victoria, but rather for her husband Prince Albert. That same day, Albert’s manservant Robert Grosvenor signed an official document for Byrne on behalf of Prince Albert. The document was kept by Byrne and is now in his papers in Belfast. It is a printed sheet with blanks to be filled in:

___________________________________
You are hereby appointed __________
___________________________________
to his Royal Highness Prince Albert
Given under my hand and Seal
at Buckingham Palace
this ____ day of _______ 184__

Groom of the Stole

PRONI D3531/G/6

The blanks have been filled in by hand; the first line has “Mr Patrick Byrne”; he is appointed as “Irish Harper”, and the date is the “Sixth” of “January” 1841. The Groom has signed his name, “Rob^t Grosvenor”. The arms of Prince Albert are blind embossed at the top of the sheet, and there is a red wax seal towards the bottom, which I am assuming is Lord Robert Grosvenor’s arms; the seal impression has the talbot dog supporters and crest, and the Grosvenor motto “virtus non stemma”. The shield has the wheatsheaf on the dexter side, and the sinister side is quartered with a rampant lion type animal (2nd and 3rd) and a cross with little balls or circles (1st and 4th).

Lord Robert Grosvenor was Groom of the Stool to Prince Albert from 1840 to 1841, an office which was connected to the domestic side of the royal household. I do not know what the usual procedure was for getting such a royal appointment; I have not really looked at the networks of patronage and clientism amongst these high aristocrats, because I am focussing on the lives and works of the traditional musicians themselves. I also don’t know if Robert Grosvenor was actually at Buckingham Palace, or at Windsor Castle; and I don’t know how the document would have been presented to Byrne.

Byrne’s visit is mentioned in the newspapers, reporting on the goings-on at court:

HER MAJESTY, &C.
(From our Correspondent.)
WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
Her Majesty and the Duchess of Kent were prevented by the inclemency of the weather from taking their accustomed airing to-day.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Bouverie, Lord Alfred Paget, Mr. G. E. Anson, and Dr. Praetorius, took the exerise of skating on the lake at Frog more this morning.
There will be no addition to the Royal dinner party this evening.
Mr. Byrne, the blind Irish harper, had the honour of attending at the castle yesterday evening, and playing several of his national airs before her Majesty and the court.

Morning Post, Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3

We have a slight contradiction here, since the Correspondent is obviously reporting Friday’s events in the late afternoon, before dinner; he says Byrne was there “yesterday evening” which would be the evening of Thursday 7th. But Victoria’s diary is very clear that Byrne was there on Wednesday 6th; on Thursday 7th she reports going out to Frogmore with Albert to be “pushed about” on the ice, but does not mention any evening entertainments; and on Friday 8th she writes that she did not go out, but that Albert went skating; and that she and Albert played the piano in the evening. The Duchess of Kent was Victoria’s mother, who lived with her.

Frogmore is a house about half a mile south of Windsor Castle, with a lake, where the skating was. It was extremely cold: “at three o’clock this morning, the thermometer was as low as 6 degrees Fahrenheit, 26 degrees below freezing point; and today, at noon, it stood at only 10 degrees…” (English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post, Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3); i.e. it had been -14°C overnight, and it was still -12°C by midday.

So we can imagine Byrne at Windsor Castle, with the frozen landscape around outside, playing for Albert and Victoria.

I have loads of news clipping that mention Byrne playing at Windsor, all of them presumably reprinting or paraphrasing each other and the original Royal press release or court report. I presume that this repetition is how errors can come in; some reports say Byrne was there on Thursday 7th; some say he was there Friday 8th; others say he was there “last evening” or “yesterday evening” which is a bit vague. I think they are all wrong and I would trust the diary entries.

The news clippings I have so far are Bells Weekly Messenger Sat 9 Jan 1841 p4; English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3; London Evening Standard Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3; Morning Chronicle Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3; Morning Herald Sat 9 Jan 1841 p5; Morning Post Sat 9 Jan 1841 p3; New Court Gazette Sat 9 Jan 1841 p8; Sun Sat 9 Jan 1841 p7; Weekly True Sun Sun 10 Jan 1841 p9; Freemans Journal Mon 11 Jan 1841 p2; Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier Tue 12 Jan 1841 p2; Cheltenham Examiner Wed 13 Jan 1841 p3; Limerick Chronicle Wed 13 Jan 1841 p2; Vindicator Wed 13 Jan 1841 p3; Coventry Standard Fri 15 Jan 1841 p2; Hull Packet Fri 15 Jan 1841 p2; Statesman and Dublin Christian Record Fri 15 Jan 1841 p2; Belfast Commercial Chronicle Sat 16 Jan 1841 p4; Roscommon Journal and Western Impartial Reporter Sat 16 Jan 1841 p2; Tipperary Free Press Sat 16 Jan 1841 p4; Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail Sat 16 Jan 1841 p5; Nenagh Guardian, Sat 16 Jan 1841 p1; and Leamington Spa Courier Sat 16 Jan 1841 p2

The Leamington Spa Courier obviously picked up the reports in the London papers, because it repeats the information (with the wrong day), and adds a commentary:

Mr. PATRICK BYRNE, so well know as “the Blind Irish harper,” had the honour of playing before her Majesty and the Court, at Windsor Castle, on Friday week. We trust that the patronage which the Queen has thus extended to Mr. Byrne, will have the effect of directing the attention of many noble families in the three kingdoms, to the extraordinary performances of an individual who is deservedly respected by a large circle of acquaintances.

Leamington Spa Courier Sat 16 Jan 1841 p2

Back in Ireland: Playing at the Viceregal Lodge

Four months later, we find Patrick Byrne back in Ireland. He seems to be capitalising on his Royal Appointment, because we find him at Áras an Uachtaráin, performing for the Viceroy. The clipping says that this is the fourth time he has played there since returning from England ; at this stage I don’t know when he travelled, or what else he was up to between January and May 1841.

Mr. Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, had the honour of performing at the Viceregal Lodge, at a select party given by his Excellency on Thursday evening. It cannot but be gratifying to the admirers and patrons of our national minstrelsy to hear that this was the fourth time this gifted performer played at the private parties of the Lord Lieutenant since his recent visit to this city. When in England Mr. Byrne performed before the Queen and Court at Windsor, and afterwards before the Queen Dowager, and had conferred upon him the appointment of harper to Prince Albert. Under such fostering auspices some hope may be indulged that genuine Irish music will be revived, and no longer treated with the cold neglect which has well nigh chilled the soul and sentiment of national song.

Freemans Journal, Sat 29 May 1841 p 3

In May 1841 the Viceroy was Hugh Fortescue, Viscount Ebrington. On 26 July 1841, Fortescue married Elizabeth Geale who was the widow of Byrne’s old patron Sir Marcus Somerville (see part 2 of this series).

Visiting Castle Mary

The next report I have is from six weeks later. I don’t have the original from the Cork Constitution, but we have a couple of reprints in the Dublin papers:

IRISH HARPING. – We have been favoured with a short visit from Mr. Patrick Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, who so lately performed for her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Queen Dowager, and we may safely say that his style of playing the beautiful airs of our country cannot be excelled. The few ladies and gentlemen who had the good fortune to hear him, were in raptures at his performance. He is now returning to the north of Ireland, after having spent some time at Castlemary, where he proposes returning next Christmas, and we hope he will then give our fellow-citizens an opportunity of hearing the spirit-stirring strains of the ancient harp of Ireland. – Cork Constitution.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Thur 8 Jul 1841 p3, reprinted in Dublin Morning Register, Fri 9 July 1841 p1

This article is not so easy to understand. Did he go from Dublin south, and spend June at Castle Mary, before returning to Dublin at the beginning of July?

Castle Mary is in East Cork, near to Cloyne. Castle Mary is now a ruin, since it was burned by the IRA in the 1920s. At the time of Byrne’s visit, in 1841, Castle Mary was occupied by Reverend Robert Longfield ( – 1843), the son of Mountifort Longfield MP (1746-1819). I am not finding very much about Rev. Robert. Burke’s Peerage says he married Cherry Hugo, daughter of Thomas Hugo of Drumeen, Co Wicklow. I think it is Rev. Robert and Cherry’s son Mountifort who is the gentleman in the red waistcoat in the painting of road bowling at Castle Mary in 1847.

In Patrick Byrne’s private papers there are two songs which relate to him visiting Castle Mary. Both are anonymous. Neither is dated, and so we cannot know whether they relate to this visit in Spring-Summer 1841, or to a subsequent visit, but we may as well look at them here now.

One of them is in the form of a single sheet, folded up to make a little packet and addressed on the outside “M^r Burnes Esq^r / Castle Mary / Cloyne”

1st.
Larry O’Gaff was a brave boy for marching
His [instep] was large but his income was small
So he set off one day as a soldier of fortune
The meaning of which is [no] fortune at all
In battles bombardments and sieges he grew up
Till he did not much care if towns flourished or blew up
and his maxims in life for he look’d one or two up
were short sweet and simple for Larry O’Gaff
2nd
… [four more verses] …
Finis
Burnes I will bring you the other song when I go to Castle Mary

PRONI D3531/G/3

The other one is a sheet of paper folded into eight, but with no name or date or anything except for the song lyric:

At famed castle Mary when James bids us rise
and the brandy and milk have just opened our eyes
tis on boots and breeches down to breakfast we [run]
and the rashers and praties now vanish like [fun]
With the tea and the toast and the Ladys so gay
no wonder for sport we are eager that day
for theres nothing like hunting whether fox buck or doe
[No] theres nothing beats hunting where ever we go
2
[about five more verses interspersed with “chorus” i.e. the last 2 lines]

PRONI D3531/G/3

This is a very interesting hunting song which is set in Castle Mary and which names “James” (presumably the manservant who comes to wake the guests) and “Mr Daly” who is perhaps the hunt master.

I am especially interested in the breakfast menu – the guests are woken with “brandy and milk”. I must try this. Then they get up, get dressed, and go down to breakfast: rashers of bacon with potatoes, and then tea and toast.

I can’t imagine poor blind Patrick Byrne out on horseback charging across the fields in pursuit of “fox buck or doe”; presumably he stayed at the castle, and then would sing this kind of comic song to entertain the other guests in the evenings. “The few ladies and gentlemen who had the good fortune to hear him” would certainly have known that he was now the Royal harper to Prince Albert, and we are also told that they “were in raptures at his performance”.

When the Cork Constitution says “We have been favoured with a short visit from Mr. Patrick Byrne”, I am not sure if that means that Byrne went in to Cork City to do a few private events, or if it is just referring to him being at Castle Mary, i.e. in the general area.

The Cork Constitution article gives us two snippets of information about Patrick Byrne’s future plans for later in 1841. We are told that “He is now returning to the north of Ireland”, and that “he proposes returning next Christmas” to Castle Mary. (Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Thur 8 Jul 1841 p3)

Heading North: Dublin and Newry

As well as re-printing the Cork Constitution clipping, the Register gives us new information on another page:

Mr. Byrne, the far-famed Irish harper arrived in Dublin from Cork yesterday.

Dublin Morning Register, Friday 9th July 1841 p3

I have no information about what he was doing for the next four months. He must have gone into the North of Ireland, because the next clipping I have for him is in November 1841 when he was heading south, and he stopped for a couple of days in Newry for a few private engagements:

Mr. BYRNE, the blind Irish harper, passing through this town, remained for a day or two, gratifying a few of our musical townsmen with his performance on his native instrument. We are sorry, being engaged professionally in Dublin, he could not make a longer stay, for we are confident the lovers of Irish music would have been much delighted by his performance of some of the Irish melodies.

Newry Telegraph, Thur 25 Nov 1841 p3

Byrne headed on to Dublin and spent almost a month there, presumably working private engagements for different aristocratic and wealthy clients. On 31 Nov he played for a Scottish themed dinner:

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST ANDREW.
The Scottish Benevolent Society of St Andrew held its anniversary meeting on St Andrew’s day, at RADLEY’s Hotel, College-green, when a satisfactory report was read, after which the music of the Highland pipes playing “The Gathering” gave notice of the approach of dinner. On its being announced, the company entered the dinner room to the air of “The Campbells are Coming.” Dinner was served in excellent style, and the usual “haggies,” with its “honest sonsie face,” invitingly smoked upon the board. During dinner Byrne, the Irish harper, delighted the company with his admirable performance. The fine band of the 45th regiment played also, and at intervals the phibroche, played by two of the 78th Highland pipers, struck up their loud and characteristic strains. After the cloth was drawn the chairman, James Ferrier, Esq., president of the society, proposed the following toasts, which were heartily responded to: –
“The Queen.” – “God Save the Queen.”
“The Duke of Cornwall.” – “Welcome , Royal Charlie.”
“His Royal Highness Prince Albert and the Princess Royal.” – “Duncan Grey.”
“The Queen Dowager and the rest of the Royal Family.” – “Rule Britannia.”
The Lord Lieutenant and Prosperity to Ireland.” – “Patrick’s Day” by the band, followed by “Johnny Cope,” the pipers marching round the room as they played.
“Our Patron, the Earl of Haddington.” – “Logie O’Buchan.”
“The Scottish Benevolent Society of St. Andrew.” – “Has sorrow thy young days shaded.”
“Our Croupier, Alexander Parker, Esq.” – “Tullochgorum,” by the pipers.
Mr. PARKER, the vice-chairman, then proposed the following toasts, which were also cheerfully responded to: –
“Our President, James Ferrier, Esq.” – “Brogues and bochan an’ a’,” by the pipers.
“Mrs. Ferrier.” – “Kate Kearney.”
“The Land of Cakes.” – “Auld lang syne.”
“Our Office-bearers, Committee, Treasurer, and Secretary.” – “The Campbells are coming,” by the pipers.
“The Army – the Colonels and Officers of the 45th Regiment.” – “Regimental March.”
“The Day, and a’ wha honor it.” By Dr. James F. Duncan. – “Here’s a health to them that’s awa’.”
“Dublin – its Trade and Commerce.” By Mr. Carmichael. – “Donnybrook Fair,” by the harper.
“The Navy.” By Mr. Findlater. – “Battle of the Nile.”
“The Irish Press.” By Mr. Jackson. – “Rory O’More.”
“Old England.” By Mr. Harvie. – “Wreath of Roses.”
The evening’s festivities terminated most agreeably for all.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Sat 4 Dec 1841 p3

Radley’s Hotel was in the Commercial Buildings, opposite the corner of College Green and Trinity Street. All that remains is a plaque on the wall.

We can see Patrick Byrne surrounded by other cultural reference points that relate to Scotland but also the class and millieu of mid 19th century Dublin. So we have the great Highland bagpipes, and the haggis, but the list of toasts after the dinner really shows us how hierarchical and Loyal Society and Culture was at that time. We see that each toast was proposed, and drunk to, and then there was a musical performance for it. Patrick Byrne is only mentioned for one of the responses, the toast to “Dublin – its Trade and Commerce” which was proposed by Mr. Carmichael; and Patrick Byrne played the tune of Donnybrook Fair. Other toasts had the military band or the Highland pipers playing after them.

This kind of private Society dinner with toasts was quite a common event for the other harpers, Byrne’s contemporaries, to be playing at; one of the things I notice about Byrne is that I am seeing far less of this kind of thing. I don’t know if Byrne just did less, or tried to keep out of the newspapers, by aiming higher and playing for more exclusive domestic engagements with higher-ranking patrons.

MR. BYRNE, THE BLIND HARPER.
We are sorry that we are about to lose, for a season, the society of this splendid and highly entertaining performer. His last engagement in Dublin for the present year was concluded on Tuesday, at the hospitable mansion of of the Rev. Sir Harcourt Lees, Bart. , by whom his musical talents have been so long and justly appreciated. Byrne’s next destination is the south of Ireland, where he purposes to enjoy the hospitality of one of his oldest patrons and admirers – we mean the Rev. Robert Longfield, of Castlemary, in the neighbourhood of Cloyne. We can truly say that, to the lovers of our sweet but national airs, Mr. Byrne’s performance on the Irish harp must prove a treat of no ordinary character.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Thur 23 Dec 1841 p3

So Byrne played at Blackrock House for Rev. Sir Harcourt Lees, who is said to have “long” supported Byrne. We are only getting brief snapshots of these aristocratic patrons and their relationship with Byrne; most of what he is doing is not being reported in the newspapers. I think there may well be more details in the private papers of some of these families.

Anyway after his final engagement at Blackrock House on Tuesday 21st December 1841, Patrick Byrne set off south, to return to Castle Mary, presumably aiming to arrive there before Christmas as he had intended to back in the summer.

I am interested to see Rev. Robert Longfield of Castle Mary referred to as “one if his oldest patrons and admirers”, as if Longfield had been a patron back in the 1820s. But I haven’t found any references to this (see part 2 for more on Byrne’s early patrons).

Touring in Ulster in 1842

Patrick Byrne must have left Castle Mary early in 1842 and headed back North. I am guessing he may have visited his family in Greaghlone, and perhaps stayed with the Shirleys at Lough Fea (I have not yet collated when the Shirleys were in Ireland).

We find Patrick Byrne performing in Carrickmacross on Friday 29th April 1842:

MR. BYRNE, THE IRISH HARPER
(From a Correspondent)
The celebrated Irish harper, Mr. BYRNE, who has so recently had the honour of performing on that ancient and truly IRISH instrument, in the presence of her Majesty the Queen, Prince Albert, the Queen Dowager, and other members of the Royal Family, besides all the elite of this and the sister kingdom, with such distinguished success and deserved applause, entertained the inhabitants of Carrickmacross and its vicinity, on Friday evening, under the patronage of ALEXANDER MITCHELL and JAMES EVATT, Esqrs. At eight o’clock Mr. BYRNE was encircled by all the rank, wealth, and respectability belonging to “the place of his birth;” when he convinced his admiring auditors, by a magic touch, “that his sounding lyre could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.” Mr. BYRNE played several airs in the most enchanting style, and with an effect that to attempt to describe were vain; it could be only felt as heavenly harmony coming o’er the ear, “like the sweet wind that breathes upon a bank of violets, stealing and giving odors.” The most rapturous applause succeeded his every piece, and the recitation of his “Paul Dogherty” elicited loud and continued cheering. It was, indeed, truly gratifying to observe persons of all ranks of society, of all religious sects, and of all shades of politics assembled to pay the meed of their approbation to talent of the first order, and to bear honourable testimony to their gifted countryman’s claims to that patronage which he has received, and which his chaste performance so transcendantly merited. It may be truly said of Mr. BYRNE’s entertainment, that it was “the feast of reason and the flow of soul.”

Northern Standard, Sat 30 Apr 1842 p3, reprinted in Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Thur 28 April 1842 p3

I wonder if Patrick Byrne’s relatives may have come in to Carrickmacross from Greaghlone to be at this event? There was his father Thomas, his sister Alice, and his various half-siblings.

Paul Dogherty is mentioned in other events that Byrne did; I am interested that it is described here as “his Paul Dogherty” as if he composed it, or somehow made it his own. Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin has suggested that this could be the song “Bold Doherty” which she says was in the Oriel song tradition.

Cookstown and Moneymore, June-July 1842

A couple of months later, Patrick Byrne is further north.

PRINCE ALBERT’S IRISH HARPER. – The lovers of music, in Cookstown and Moneymore, have recently enjoyed a high and delightful treat, from the presence and performance of Mr. Patrick Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper. – Mr. B., we believe, intends to visit several of the leading towns in this Province; and, we sincerely hope, that the countenance and patronage he shall receive, will be worthy of his pre-eminent skill as a player, and his estimable qualities as a man, as well as creditable to the public taste for our ancient national music. It must be truly gratifying to our feelings of national pride, to know, that, when Mr. Byrne was invited on a late occasion to give a specimen of his powers of execution upon the harp, in the Drawing-room of Buckingham Palace, the wild sweetness of some of the old Irish airs awakened unusual admiration, and called forth, towards the performer, an expression of unqualified praise from the lips of her Majesty. – A Correspondent.

Northern Whig, Thur 7 Jul 1842 p4

I think the reference to Buckingham Palace is wrong, because we know he was at Windsor Castle, and we have no reference to a subsequent visit, but who knows.

In Patrick Byrne’s private papers, in the package containing song lyrics (PRONI D3531/G/3) there is a sheet of paper containing a song, “St. Patrick of Ireland, my dear” by Dr. Maginn, which begins “A fig for St Denis of France”. The song text was published by Thomas Crofton Croker, Popular Songs of Ireland, p24-30. Patrick Byrne’s copy of the song is handwritten on a piece of paper, folded in half to make a 4-page pamphlet. After the song has been written, the paper has been folded tight to make a little parcel, and a different hand has written a name and address on the outside. I am struggling to read the handwriting; the name could possibly be “Mrs [Dr] B[arnett]”. The place is definitely “Money More”. The piece of paper is not dated and my not being able to read the name is not very helpful. It could possibly refer to Grace, who was married to Dr John Barnett. I am clutching at straws here. But it is possible that the song is connected to Byrne’s visit to Moneymore in June-July 1842, and it is possible that he visited Grace Barnett at Moneymore at that time.

by the end of the month, Patrick Byrne had moved on to Newcastle, in County Down:

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT. – BYRNE, THE CELEBRATED IRISH HARPER. – On the evening of Saturday last, the 30th of July, the respectable inhabitants and seasonal visitants of Newcastle were treated to a rich musical entertainment by Mr. P. BYRNE, the celebrated Irish harper, in a large room in the principal Hotel of that fashionable watering-place – the “Glenada Inn,” which has deservedly obtained a high celebrity under the excellent management of of Mr. Alexander Rule. Mr. BYRNE has been passing through Newcastle, on his way to the County Louth, when he was requested to give an evening Concert to a select company in Mr. Rule’s Hotel, with which invitation he politely complied, and a large number of ladies and gentlemen were consequently in attendance. The music consisted chiefly of Irish and Scottish airs, with original arrangements and variations by Mr. BYRNE himself; and the exquisite manner in which they were performed elicited continuous bursts of applause from the audience. Since the lamented decease of Arthur O’Neill, and that of his scarcely less distinguished pupil, the late Valentine Rennie, in his better days, there has been no practical harpist in Ireland who at all approaches to P. Byrne in the delicacy and truth of his musical intonations, combined at the same time with a variety and power of which our national instrument might, by strangers, be supposed incapable. The performances of the evening terminated shortly after ten o’clock, and so intense was the enthusiasm with which they had been received, that Mr. BYRNE was immediately requested to remain for some time in Newcastle, to give a series of similar concerts, so long as his other engagements would permit; and to this request he acceded. Mr. BYRNE has had the honor of performing before her Majesty the Queen, before Prince Albert and the Queen Dowager, and holds a patent as his Royal Highness’s harper for Ireland. In his character he combines the qualities of a polished gentleman, and an admirable musician, who will yet be remembered in our national history, if he will only do justice to his own powers. – (From a Correspondent.)

Newry Telegraph Thu 4 Aug 1842 p3

The Glenada Hotel seems to have been on the site of Glenada YMCA, at the foot of Slieve Donard. Byrne’s event was only a couple of weeks after Alexander Rule had placed a newspaper advert announcing his takeover and re-opening of the Glenada Inn (Newry Telegraph, Tue 12 July 1842 p1).

I am interested to see a reference here to two of Patrick Byrne’s teachers, his first teacher Arthur O’Neil, and his third teacher Valentine Rennie. I am also interested that Byrne’s second teacher, Edward McBride, has been written out of the story.

The clipping describes how Byrne was asked by the people of Newcastle to stay a while, presumably so that he could go to the private houses of the wealthy people, to play for them at private parties and gatherings. I don’t know how long he might have stayed there – maybe a week or two. He did not stay for the whole time in Newcastle town itself, since we find him heading about 10 miles north-east to Downpatrick a few days later:

CONCERT. – Mr. Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, is about to give a concert in this Town. From this gentleman’s high character as a performer on the Harp, we anticipate a crowded house. Our contemporary, the Newry Telegraph of Thursday last, thus speaks of Mr. Byrne. “Since the lamented decease of Arthur O’Neill …[quote from NT]… supposed incapable.”

Downpatrick Recorder, Sat 6 Aug 1842 p3

The Newry Telegraph clipping also tells us that he was on his way to Co Louth. I think this might have been to go and stay with one of his patrons – perhaps to Lisrenny House to stay with his patrons William and Sophia Filgate.

At Lough Fea, September 1842

In the Autumn, Patrick Byrne was back at Lough Fea with the Shirleys. We have a very detailed report of what was going on at Lough Fea in mid-September, when the son and heir Evelyn Philip Shirley came to Lough Fea with his new wife on Friday 9th September 1842. The tenantry organised a welcome that evening, and bonfires on all the hills, and there was generally a party atmosphere across the Shirley estates. On the evening of Saturday 10th the party was in Carrickmacross town, with a temperance band and fireworks, and people lit up their houses, and the Shirley family walked through the town and were cheered and welcomed by the people

On Tuesday 13th, E. J Shirley laid on a dinner for all the children who were pupils at the schools which he funded on the estate. 607 children processed in from their schools across the estate, and had dinner in the great hall of Lough Fea house.

…During the repast the band played several of their best pieces, and the enjoyment was heightened by the presence and performance of our highly gifted countryman, Mr. Patrick Byrne, the celebrated Harper, who is, we are proud to say, a thoroughbred Farneyman. When the children had concluded their meal, three cheers were respectively proposed and given for Mrs. and Mr. Shirley, Mrs. and Mr. E. P. Shirley, Mr. Mitchell, &c. &c. …

Newry Telegraph, Thur 29 Sep 1842 p3

Evelyn John Shirley was the aristocratic landlord and Byrne’s old patron; Evelyn Philip Shirley was his son; Mr Mitchell was the Lough Fea estate manager.

After the dinner, the children had organised games on the lawn, including climbing a greasy pole, races and acrobatics.

The following day, Wednesday 14th, E. J. Shirley gave a dinner in the great hall of Lough Fea House for “the tradesmen, labourers, &c., employed by Mr Shirley at his building, and in his farm and demense”. At 3pm, 141 people sat down to dinner.

During dinner the band continued to play the most favourite tunes, and at proper intervals, that truly National instrument, the harp, was heard filling the Grand Baronial Hall – a room 79 feet long, by 34 feet broad – with it[s] soft and swelling sounds, combining sweetness and mellowness of tone with grand powerful effect. Indeed Mr. Byrne is a “witch” in his way, he is really so “enchanting“.

Newry Telegraph, Thur 29 Sep 1842 p3

The article was reprinted (with cuts) in the Leamington Spa Courier, Sat 1 Oct 1842 p3.

In Dublin, Jan 1843

At the beginning of 1843, Patrick Byrne was in Dublin, and he placed an advertisement in the newspapers:

THE HARP.
MR. BYRNE, the BLIND IRISH HARPER, who has had the distinguished honor of performing before the Queen at Windsor, and also at the Irish Court, [will ??el] happy in attending PRIVATE EVENING PARTIES during his stay in Dublin, which he expects will be prolonged for a few weeks.
Address, Drogheda Hotel, Old Dominick-street.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Sat 14 Jan 1843 p2

The newspaper also printed a brief editorial notice:

MUSIC.
We perceive, by an advertisement in this day’s publication, that Mr. Byrne, the celebrated Irish harper, has arrived in town, and recommend our musical friends not to lose the opportunity of hearing him. He is universally acknowledged to be one of the best performers of the day on the beautiful instrument to which he devotes his talent; and the highest personages in the realm, her Majesty and Prince Albert, have been delighted listeners to his strains.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Sat 14 Jan 1843 p3

“The Irish Court” must refer to him playing for the Viceroy at the Viceregal Lodge (now Áras an Uachtaráin) in Phoenix Park.

It is interesting to see him still not performing public concerts, but he is becoming more public by advertising his availability for private events like this. Old Dominick Street is also known as Lower Dominick Street; In the Thom Directory of 1850, Elizabeth Carolin is listed as running the Drogheda Hotel on the corner of Lower Dominick Street and Bolton Street. The building is long gone.

A letter from Castle Mary

While Patrick Byrne was in Dublin, he was sent a letter, which is preserved in his private papers (PRONI D3531.G.5). Unfortunately it seems to be missing its envelope (which would have the address on it), but the letter is signed and dated “Rich^d B Tooker / Castle Mary Jan^y 23|43″. The writer of the letter, Richard Beare Tooker, had married in 1839 Frances Anne (1818-1866), daughter of Rev. Robert Longfield of Castle Mary. I think they usually lived at Mardyke House which is close to the centre of Cork City.

In the letter, Richard Tooker addresses “My dear Byrne”, and thanks him for his letter which had arrived the previous day. He writes with news of the family, about the last weeks and death of “the poor [Governor]” who I think must be Rev. Robert Longfield (d. 1843). He says that Mrs Longfield is “wonderfully well” but that Margaret (another of Rev. Robert’s daughters) is “very delicate”. Richard Tooker thanks Byrne for asking about “the Baby“; he says “she is quite well … and learning to speak very quickly”. I don’t know which child this is; I am not finding complete lists of the daughters of Richard Beare Tooker and Frances Anne Longfield.

Perhaps most curiously, Richard Beare Tooker writes “Mrs Tooker has been getting some lesson[] on the Harp you got me and we intend (please god) if we live to have the Baby instructed when she is old enough.” I am not sure what this is all about. I don’t know of anyone down in County Cork teaching the traditional wire-strung Irish harp. I don’t know if they would have asked Byrne to get them “a harp”, and whether he would have just put them in contact with a Dublin pedal harp retailer; or if he may have sourced a traditional wire-strung Irish harp for them, and then left them at the mercy of a local classical harp teacher. This is a bit of a mystery to me at the moment.

We have other references to Byrne getting harps for people, but we will deal with these later.

In Kingscourt, March 1843

On 17th March 1843 Patrick Byrne was in Kingscourt, County Cavan, and he seems to have done a public concert in the Market House. Unfortunately this building was demolished in the 1960s or 70s.

ST PATRICK’S DAY IN KINGSCOURT – From a Correspondent. – After the usual devotions of the day, the lovers of fun in Kingscourt and its vicinity, put old care to the route by a vigorous applicatoin to the very ancient, if not classic amusement of ass racing, climbing the well-scraped oiled pole, running in sacks for tobacco, dancing for handkerchiefs, &c. The whole terminating with a soiree musicale in the long room of the Market-house, when Mr. Byrne, the famous harper, delighted a crowded audience by his performance of several national airs on Ireland’s own instrument. Notwithstanding that the town was densely thronged throughout the day, there was not a single case of intoxication or disorder to mar the good humour of the various scenes of fun, frolic, or harmony.

Drogehda Argus and Leinster Journal, Sat 25 March 1843 p 2

Near Newry, May 1843

In the first week or so of May 1843, Patrick Byrne was staying at Narrow Water Castle. This is an Elizabethan Revival castle which was built between 1816 and 1836, so it was fairly new when Byrne was there. Narrow Water Castle is still owned and occupied by the Hall family, the descendents of Byrne’s hosts. The Castle is just up the hill away from the more famous and more visible Narrow Water Keep which is a ruined tower house on the loch side, beside the main road from Newry to Warrenpoint.

THE FAR-FAMED IRISH HARPER. – Our old friend, Mr. BYRNE, has been sojourning, during the past week, at the residence of one of his earliest patrons, ROGER HALL, Esq., of Narrow-water Castle, delighting the guests assembled in that noble mansion with some of the oldest and sweetest Irish airs, played in a style of which only those who have had the good fortune to hear the first Irish harper of the day, can form a just estimate. During the last few days we have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Byrne perform on his loved instrument; and the opinion we long since formed has been confirmed, that to the ancient music of our country no other living harpist can do such ample justice. Mr. Byrne is in every respect peculiarly fitted for his vocation. His manners are gentlemanlike; his conversation varied and amusing; and the good old stories which, bard-like, he narrates, render him a most agreeable and interesting companion. He is about leaving Newry for the County of Louth; but we are sure his admirers in Ulster will be happy to hear that Mr. Byrne will spend the greater part of the ensuing Summer in the North of Ireland.

Newry Telegraph, Sat 13 May 1843 p3

We are also told that Byrne is about to head off to County Louth (again – presumably to Lisrenny), but that he plans to spend the summer of 1843 touring Ulster.

Working in England, late summer or autumn 1843

I think that from the late summer or autumn of 1843, Patrick Byrne was in England. Again our records are patchy; I think he may have been touring around doing private events at the houses of wealthy patrons, and so we only have snapshots.

We have a wonderful description of Byrne playing at one of these private parties in England.

BYRNE, THE IRISH HARPER. – We find that our old acquaintance has lately been delighting the lovers of music in England, and, we hope and believe, filling his own purse. The following extract of a letter from Bristol will be read with pleasure by many of Byrne’s friends. The writer is a distinguished member of the Irish bar, whose family is famed in the Northern Athens for musical talent, an ardent love for the airs and the harp of our country, and for generous patronage of every institution having for its object the promotion of a taste for native music:
“You would have been gratified to hear the unbounded applause which a blind Irish harper drew forth from a large party of Scotch and English visitors, at the Old Well House. Others asked for jiggs and Scotch reels, occasionally Rory O’ More, and so forth; but when I rose and, stealing over to the harp, whispered, ‘Do you know Love in Secret?’ he suspected it must be a countryman, and instantly rejoined, ‘Do you know Mr. Bunting, Sir?’ I said ‘Yes,’ but did not tell him who I was. His fingers strayed for a moment among the strings; but like him of the ‘Lay,’
“When he caught the measure wild,
The BLIND man raised his face, and smiled;”
and the tones and melody I learned many years since, from my father’s lips,
“Fell on the heart, like dew
On the drooping heather-bell.”
It was Byrne – Rainey’s pupil. He had lately played before the Queen and Prince Albert, and her Majesty presented him with £30, as a tribute of her admiration of Ireland’s genius in sweet melody. It is a pleasure to feel that the cold breath of the world does not altogether dim the tastes and delights of our youth. I can enjoy a melody or old ballad as much as when I first imbibed my love for such at the feet of your uncle R_______, at L_______ House; and although I have since then cultivated other tastes, and drank the fountains opened in other languages, I feel a pleasant trickling about the heart when the songs of the olden time come across my memory, or meet me in my wanderings.”

Newry Telegraph, Sat 21 Oct 1843 p3

The first poetic quote is from Sir Walter Scott’s Lay of the Last Minstrel; the second is from Blackwood’s Magazine, October 1823 p483. The whole of the second part of the letter gets very literary and romantic and does not tell us very much about Byrne, but it tells us a lot about the writer of the letter and the way that Byrne’s performance might be seen and understood by these Anglo aristocrats.

We are not told who the writer was, though perhaps we could work it out. Our man is a Dublin lawyer, but his family is well known in Edinburgh as musicians and as patrons of “native music”. The writer mentions being a child and hearing tunes sung by “your uncle R_______, at L_______ House” but I am not sure how this fits into the writer’s family, or if it is the recipient’s uncle; and I don’t know who the recipient of the letter was, who passed it on to the Newry Telegraph.

The venue is given as “the Old Well House”, with the implication that it is in or near Bristol. I am not finding where this was; there was the old hot well house (in the area now known as Hotwells) but this was demolished in 1822, having already been replaced by the New Hot Wells.

We have some interesting information here about Patrick Byrne’s repertory – first that he was taking requests; then that he was playing (or at least being asked for) “jiggs and Scotch reels”, and Rory O’More “and so forth”. But our man went over and requested the traditional air “Love in Secret”. I wrote up the harp sources for this tune; Edward Bunting had collected it perhaps from the traditional harper (and Patrick Byrne’s harp teacher) Arthur O’Neil, probably in the summer of 1792, and Bunting published it in his 1797 collection (p.8).

So, why did Byrne reply to the request by asking “Do you know Mr Bunting”? What did Patrick Byrne think of Edward Bunting? Was he in awe of him as the publisher of harp music who had written Byrne a testimonial letter in 1840? Did Byrne know about how Bunting had betrayed the inherited harp tradition by advocating for the defunding of the school and the abandonment of the traditional harpers also in 1840? Did Byrne recognise that our man would have known the tune from Bunting’s classical piano arrangement and not from the living tradition? There are lots of questions here about the relationships between the working traditional harpers, the classical piano arrangers publishers and players, and the aristocratic patrons bankrolling both the traditional musicians and their classical usurpers.

Death of his father

Thomas Byrne of Greaghlone, who I am pretty certain was Patrick Byrne’s father, died on 20th December 1843. But I think Patrick Byrne was still away in England at this time. Patrick Byrne paid for a lavish headstone for his father’s grave. He may have done this from England by letter, or he may have done it the following year when he was back in Ireland. I discussed this headstone in part 1 of this series of posts.

Back to Ireland, spring 1844

Patrick Byrne seems to have returned from England early in 1844; he spent a short time in Ulster. He was around Tandragee around early March, presumably visiting big houses near there, though I don’t know who. Then he headed for Newry towards the end of March – perhaps he was dealing with his father’s gravestone and other family affairs. At the end of March he was going to Dundalk.

MR. BYRNE, the famous Irish Harper, passed through Newry on his way to Dundalk. We understand that he has been for some time sojourning in Tandragee and its neighbourhood, to the delight of all who enjoyed the opportunity of hearing his truly National strains.

Newry Telegraph, Thur 21 March 1844 p3

Then after that he carried on towards Dublin.

BYRNE, THE IRISH HARPER.
The Dublin lovers of our national music will, we are sure, be delighted to learn that their old favourite, Byrne, so justly celebrated for his performance on the Irish harp, has once more revisited the metropolis after a short stay in his native province, (Ulster,) having spent the greater portion of the autumn and winter in England. The arrival of such a man among us, we, for many years back, have considered as no small treat; and that we were fully justified in so considering it, is manifest from the fact that Byrne has been recently honored with the notice and patronage of royalty itself, having had the distinguished privilege of being permitted to perform before her Majesty and Prince Albert, at Windsor Castle. As a proof of the estimation in which he is held, professionally, by his Sovereign and her Royal Consort, it is enough to know that he has been appointed Harper to the Prince, who is universally allowed to be a first-rate judge of musical excellence in all its departments. Having said thus much in attestation of the merits of a most entertaining and unobtrusive man, we shall leave the rest to be done by the aristocracy and gentry of our metropolis, to most of whom we have the best reasons for knowing the Irish harper is no stranger.
Byrne’s performances, we are given to understand, are confined exclusively to private circles.

Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent, Thur 23 May 1844 p3. Thanks to Keith Sanger for originally finding the reprint in the Belfast Newsletter Tue 28 May 1844 p2

I find it interesting to see the line about him only doing private events – he is not going to do any public concerts in Dublin on this visit. I think we understand this to be increasing the social cachet and allure of having him perform at your private event. He is clearly aiming high in the social heirarchy.

Another song

In Patrick Byrne’s private papers (PRONI D3531.G.3), there is a song that was sent to him, dated Mon 17 Jun 1844. The poem is signed at the bottom but I am struggling to read the signature. It says “[John B???]”, (possibly “Bale”), and the place is “[Dunshaughlin]”. But I am not confident in my readings.

The song begins:

The Irish Gentleman
1
Ill sing you a fine new song made by a
modern pate
and it is so good a one it can neer be
out of date
Its of a slashing dashing Irish boy up to
every sort of fun
that will make the spalpens clear the way
now that he [register^d] his gun
Like a fine young Irish Gentleman
one of the present time
…[five more verses]…
John B[???]
17 June 1844 D[uns]haughl[in]

PRONI D3531.G.3

These six verses are written on three pages of a four-page folded sheet. I haven’t tracked down this actual version, but it seems to be related to a whole slew of similar songs such as The Fine Old English Gentleman by Russell, or the Fine Old Irish Gentleman.

The final (back) page of the folded sheet has a different poem or song on it:

Early in the morning as Phoebus is dawning
My [trunk] must be laid out quite flat on its back
and four strapping fellows to bear me up [level]
whilst on their shoulders [lie] close to their neck
[they] birds [the will] sing and the valley [will] ring
whilst they join in chorus so gallant & brave
oh lay me down flat on the broad of my back
away goes the [merry] man home to his grave
tol lol &c

PRONI D3531.G.3

I don’t know where these songs come from, when Patrick Byrne got them, or anything more about them. But he kept this piece of paper for the rest of his life and it ended up after his death in his papers, kept by his patrons the Shirley family at Lough Fea, and so it is now in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast.

Writing a letter to the newspaper

Patrick Byrne obviously did not read the newspapers because he was blind; but it seems that he would have them read out to him, because at the end of 1844 we find him writing (or rather, dictating) a letter to the newspaper in response to an article.

This is an amazing document, being an extended passage in Patrick Byrne’s own words. I think it gives us a great insight into how he worked, and his way of thinking and talking, and what was important to him.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STANDARD
——
SONG OF THE EXILE OF ERIN
DEAR SIR – With much interest I have heard read to me the able advocacy of an Irishman’s claim to the authorship of that most beautiful of songs, The Exile of Erin, lately put forward in the columns of your excellent journal.
Perhaps, you would permit me to intrude on you and the public a circumstance which, though it may not be decisive in establishing the song as the offspring of Irish genius, may yet add to the very many and powerful facts, as yet uncontroverted ones, which have been adduced by those whose right and duty it is to be interested; and, indeed, every Irishman should claim that right.
It is now twenty-four years ago, since I had the honor and pleasure of being acquainted with the family of Charles Kellet, Esq., of Cornashesk, County Cavan. Mrs. Kellett, whose maiden name was Bell, was a lady of much musical and poetical genius; and the merits and demerits of authors and composers formed much of our conversation. I recollect on one occasion playing to her on my harp the entrancing air of The Exile of Erin, and at the time remarking how much credit was due to Campbell for such an effusion. She immediately said “you and many others are under a mistake, with regard to the authorship of that song: it is injustice to say that it is Campbell’s; the true author of it is George Nugent Reynolds, of Lough Scurr.” Mrs. Kellet, in talking over the matter, told me that at the time of its composition, she was the intimate friend of the Reynolds’s family; nay, more – that Reynolds was a wooer of hers; and that, of her own personal knowledge, she knew him to be the author of that song, and many other beautiful ones, which she used to sing for me at the time; and nothing could annoy her more than to argue that Campbell was the author.
Now, sir, that is twenty-four years since; Mrs. Kellet was at that time the mother of a large and fine family; the eldest of whom was then fourteen years old. This would bring us within six years of the period at which the song was written – a space easy to recollect over; and I have no doubt but that the period from Reynolds’s death to the marriage of Mrs. Bell to Mr. Kellet, would be found to occupy the six years in question. This could easily be ascertained, and if it brought us past 1801, it would, in my humble opinion, put the matter beyond all further dispute:
With many thanks for your kind consideration, I am, your very grateful and obliged servant,
PATRICK BYRNE, Irish Harper.
(We feel much pleasure in publishing Mr. Byrne’s letter, as it of itself conveys with it a sort of freemasonry on the subject. Mr. Byrne is at present stopping in Monaghan. We believe he has been, for the last five weeks, at the hospitable mansion of C. P. Leslie, Esq., M.P., Glasslough, and leaves here in a few days for for Lough Fea, the residence of E. J. Shirley, Esq., M.P.)

Northern Standard, Sat 14 Dec 1844 p2

The Exile of Erin is a song set to the tune of Savourneen Deelish:

The story about visiting Mrs. Kellett is very interesting, but there is a big problem here: Patrick Byrne appears to be wrong in some of his information. 24 years before December 1844 was December 1820, but we have solid documentary information that Patrick Byrne was a full time student at the Belfast harp school from February 1820 though to May 1822. I suppose it is possible he would take a break from his studies and go to visit patrons, but there is a second problem here. Mary Kellett’s oldest son Robert appears to have been born around 1796, and would have been aged about 24 in 1820. My suspicion is that the episode may date to the eighteen-teens; or perhaps the information about the son is wrong. Either way it is interesting to see Patrick Byrne sounding so confident and authoritative, adding up the years from when the song is supposed to have been composed, but the basis of his argument being basically faulty or mis-remembered information.

I think this is a very important and interesting letter, and so I think I will write up the family records and the letter in a separate post, to try and work out what was going on.

Anyway, the vital information for us here in this post is the contextual information about what Patrick Byrne was doing at the time of writing the letter, in December 1844. And so the editorial comment at the bottom is what we really need to look at, to try and track his movements.

The clipping says that Patrick Byrne has been staying “for the last five weeks” at Castle Leslie, which is just on the Monaghan side of the Armagh-Monaghan county border. The castle was totally rebuilt in the later 19th century and is now a luxury hotel. The five weeks prior to 14th December 1844 would take us back to early November, so we can say that Byrne spent most of November and the beginning of December at Castle Leslie. Then in mid-December Patrick Byrne set off for Lough Fea about 40km south, to stay (presumably for Christmas) with his patrons the Shirleys.

That will do for now; we will deal with 1845 in part 5.
Edit: I have now posted part 5

I have added the places mentioned in this post to my map.

My header image shows calotype photograph “B” of Patrick Byrne, taken in 1845. From National Galleries of Scotland, used under license, CC-BY-NC.