The Sean-Bhean bhocht facts for kids
The Sean-Bhean bhocht (pronounced "shan van wokht") is a very old and famous Irish song. Its name means "Poor old woman" in Irish. This song became popular around the time of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It was especially sung when people hoped for help from France to fight for Irish freedom. A French fleet tried to land in Bantry Bay in 1796, but they couldn't get ashore.
What is the Sean-Bhean bhocht?
The "Poor old woman" in the song is not a real person. She is a way to personify Ireland itself. This means Ireland is shown as an old woman. This idea of showing Ireland as a woman is a very old tradition in Irish poetry. It's like giving a country human feelings and a story.
The Song's Story
Over many years, different people have written new words for the song. These changes often reflected what was happening in politics at the time. But the main idea, the tune, and the story of the "Poor old woman's" troubles always stayed the same.
The most famous version of the song talks about hoping for victory. It shows confidence that the United Irishmen, a group fighting for Irish independence, would win their rebellion. This victory was expected to happen when the French arrived to help.
The Song's Legacy
The idea of the "Poor old woman" has inspired many other famous works.
- The famous writers W. B. Yeats and Augusta, Lady Gregory wrote a play in 1902 called Cathleen Ní Houlihan. This play was based on the story from the song.
- Later, the character appeared in Tommy Makem's song "Four Green Fields." This song talks about the division of Northern Ireland from the rest of Ireland.
- The character also shows up in the famous book Ulysses by James Joyce. In the book, she is an old lady selling milk.
See also
- The Shan Van Vocht as the title of a late nineteenth century Irish nationalist novel and magazine.
- Mise Éire
- Róisín Dubh (song)
- Hibernia (personification)
- Kathleen Ni Houlihan
- Four Green Fields
