Michael Hogan (poet) facts for kids

Michael Hogan (born October 31, 1828 – died April 19, 1899) was a famous Irish poet. People often called him the "Bard of Thomond." This means he was a well-known poet from the Thomond area of Ireland.

Early Life and Work

Michael Hogan was born in Thomondgate, which is in County Limerick, Ireland. His father was a skilled craftsman who built and repaired wheels. He was also a musician who made his own flutes and fiddles.

Michael Hogan and his family lived through the difficult time of the Great Irish Famine (1845–1848). This was a period when many people in Ireland faced hunger and hardship. Hogan later wrote about these experiences in his poems.

When he was young, Hogan worked at Russell's Mill in Lock Quay. Later in his life, he worked for the Limerick Corporation. This was a local government body in Limerick city. In 1858, Michael Hogan married Ann Lynch. They did not have any children.

Becoming a Poet

Hogan's first poems were printed in newspapers like the Anglo-Celt and the Irishman. His work also appeared in The Nation, the Munster News, and the Limerick Leader.

His first collection of poems was called Lays and Legends of Thomond. It was published in Limerick in 1861. A bigger version of this book came out in Dublin in 1867.

Michael Hogan also wrote many funny and critical poems. These poems made fun of important people in Limerick city. They became very popular and caused a lot of talk at the time. He kept writing these types of poems. A new edition of his Lays and Legends was published in Dublin in 1880.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1886, Michael Hogan traveled to the United States. He lived there for three years before returning to Ireland.

To remember his contributions, a life-size statue of Michael Hogan was put up in 2005. You can find it at King John's Castle Plaza in Limerick city. This statue honors his memory as a beloved poet.