Cathal O'Byrne facts for kids
Cathal O'Byrne (1867 – 1 August 1957) was an Irish singer, poet, and writer. He was an important figure in Irish culture and history.
Early Life and Home
Cathal O'Byrne was born in 1867 in Balmoral, County Down. His parents were from County Wicklow. When he was young, he worked at a grocery store in Ballymacarret. There, he became good friends with Joseph Devlin. Later, Cathal settled in the Falls Road area of Belfast. He lived there with his sister at 43 Cavendish Street. In 2004, a special blue plaque was placed on this house. This plaque helps remember important people and their contributions.
Career and Contributions
Cathal O'Byrne joined the Gaelic League in Belfast. This group worked to promote the Irish language and culture. He became very popular as a singer and storyteller. He also worked as a stage manager for the Ulster Theater.
O'Byrne was involved with the IRA, a group that worked for Irish independence. In 1921, he traveled to America. There, he worked as a journalist and opened a bookstore. He helped raise $100,000 for people affected by riots in Belfast. He did this through an organization called White Cross.
Cathal O'Byrne was a strong Catholic. He even had the chance to interview the Pope, the leader of the Catholic Church. He was known for his fancy way of dressing. Cathal remained a bachelor his entire life. He passed away on August 1, 1957, after having a stroke. He is remembered as a key person in the Celtic revival. This was a movement to bring back and celebrate Irish culture and traditions.
His most famous book is called As I Roved Out: A Book of the North. An Irish composer named Hamilton Harty even used O'Byrne's poem "A lullaby" for one of his songs.
Published Works
- The Grey Feet of the Wind (1917)
- From Far Green Hills (1935)
- The Burthen and the Returned Swank(1940)
- As I Roved Out: A Book of the North (1946)
- Ashes on the Hearth (1948)
- Pilgrim in Italy (1949)
