James Orr (poet) facts for kids

James Orr (born 1770 – died 1816) was a famous poet from a place called Ballycarry in Ireland. He was known as the Bard of Ballycarry. He wrote poems in English and also in a special language called Ulster Scots. James Orr was one of the most important "Weaver Poets". These were poets who often worked as weavers and wrote about their lives and times. He lived around the same time as another famous poet, Robert Burns.

A Poet and a Patriot

James Orr was not just a poet; he was also involved in important events in history. In 1791, he joined a group called the Society of United Irishmen. This group wanted Ireland to be independent. He took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, which was a fight for freedom.

The group he was with, the United Army of Ulster, lost a battle at Antrim. After this, James Orr had to hide from the authorities. He then went to America for a short time. There, he worked for a newspaper to earn money. In 1802, he was allowed to return to Ballycarry under a special agreement called an amnesty. He lived there until he passed away in 1816 when he was 46 years old.

James Orr also supported the Haitian Revolution. This was a fight for freedom by enslaved people in a place called St Domingo (now Haiti). He even wrote a poem about it called "Toussaint's Farewell to St Domingo".

Remembering James Orr

There is a large monument built to honor James Orr. It was put up in 1831 by local Freemasons. This monument is in the Templecorran cemetery, close to Ballycarry. It remembers him as a great Mason and an Ulster Weaver Poet. James Orr was one of the first members of the local Freemason Lodge.

His words are still important today. The Irish passport that was first issued in 2013 includes lines of poetry in Irish, English, and Ulster Scots. The lines in Ulster Scots are from James Orr's poem Written in Winter. You can find them on page 28 of the passport.

Poems and Stories

James Orr wrote many poems. He often wrote about his own experiences. For example, he wrote about people who had to leave Ballycarry after the 1798 Rebellion. His poem "The Passengers" tells a story about these exiles. It describes their journey and feelings.

See also

• List of Irish writers