Turlough O'Carolan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Turlough O'Carolan
Born	1670 (in Julian calendar)
Died	17 March 1738
Occupation	Composer

Turlough O'Carolan (Irish: Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin; 1670–25 March 1738) was a famous blind Celtic harp player, composer, and singer from Ireland. He is remembered for his amazing gift for creating beautiful melodies.

Many people think of Carolan as Ireland's national composer, even though he didn't write music in the same way classical composers did. Harpers who played in the old Irish style were still around in the late 1700s. Some of them, like Donnchadh Ó hÁmsaigh, played Carolan's music. However, Ó hÁmsaigh thought Carolan's music was too modern! Some of Carolan's own songs show influences from European classical music, while others, like Farewell to Music, sound much older and more like traditional "Gaelic Harping."

Carolan's Life Story

Carolan's memorial in St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

Turlough Carolan was born in 1670 in Nobber, County Meath, Ireland. His father worked as a blacksmith. When Carolan was 14, his family moved to Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon. They were invited by the MacDermott Roe family, who were important people in the area.

In Roscommon, Carolan's father got a job with the MacDermott Roe family. Mrs. MacDermott Roe made sure Turlough received an education. He quickly showed a talent for writing poetry. When he was 18, Carolan became blind because of a disease called smallpox. Mrs. MacDermott Roe then arranged for him to learn from a skilled harper. At 21, he was given a horse and a guide. He then set off to travel around Ireland, creating and performing songs for people who supported him.

For nearly 50 years, Carolan traveled all over Ireland, playing his tunes and composing new ones. One of his first songs was about a girl named Brigid Cruise, whom he liked very much. She was the daughter of the headmaster at the school for the blind that Carolan attended. In 1720, when he was 50 years old, Carolan married Mary Maguire. They lived in a small house near Mohill in County Leitrim. They had seven children: six daughters and one son. Sadly, Mary passed away in 1733.

Turlough O'Carolan died on March 25, 1738. He was buried in the MacDermott Roe family's burial ground in Kilronan, near Ballyfarnon. Every year, the O'Carolan Harp Festival and Summer School takes place in Keadue, County Roscommon, to celebrate his life and music.

There are also statues honoring Carolan. A bronze statue of him playing his harp was put up in Mohill in 1986. The President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery, unveiled it. Another statue was built in his birthplace, Nobber, in 2002 during the Annual O'Carolan Harp Festival.

Carolan's Music Style

Carolan wrote both songs with words and instrumental music for the harp. His music showed different styles. About one-third of his surviving music still has Irish lyrics that we know today. However, many musicians today don't know these lyrics. Instead, they often play Carolan's tunes as jigs and reels, which are popular Irish dance tunes.

During Carolan's time, most people in Ireland spoke Modern Irish. Carolan didn't speak English very well, so he only wrote one song in English, called "Carolan's Devotion." You can hear these lyrics on the album "Carolan's Harp." Most of Carolan's songs were written for specific people who supported him. Many of his tunes are still played and loved today. Some of his songs with known lyrics have been recorded by singers.

Carolan usually created the tune first while traveling. He would then add words later. Many of his songs are called "planxties." This is a special word that Carolan seemed to invent or make popular. It meant a song written to honor a kind host. In return for writing these songs, Carolan was often welcomed to stay at the homes of wealthy people. It is said that sometimes weddings and funerals would even wait for him to arrive and perform!

Carolan's Music Today

Most of Carolan's music was not published or written down when he was alive. It was passed down by fiddlers, pipers, and the last of the old Irish harpers. People started collecting and publishing his music in the late 1700s, thanks to the work of Edward Bunting.

A few of Carolan's pieces were published during his lifetime. One of the first was in a collection called A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes... in Dublin in 1724.

Today, many artists have recorded Carolan's songs. Since 1967, hundreds of recordings have been released. Famous groups like The Chieftains and Planxty have recorded his music. Sometimes, popular artists from other music styles will record a Carolan song, like Steeleye Span's "Sheebeg and Sheemore" or Richard Thompson's "Morgan Mawgan."

Many of Carolan's tunes are very popular and are played often. Some of the most frequently recorded pieces include:

• "Carolan’s Concerto"
• "Blind Mary"
• "Planxty George Brabazon" (also known as "Isle of Skye")
• "Sheebeg and Sheemore"
• "Planxty Col. Irwin"
• "Fanny Power"
• "Eleanor Plunkett"
• "The Princess Royal"
• "Carolan's Farewell to Music"
• "Carolan's Draught"
• "Hewlett"
• "Stafford's Receipt"

Carolan's music has even been used in interesting ways. "Carolan's Concerto" is played by the Foot Guards of the British Army during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Some of his compositions, like "Captain O'Kane" and "The Clergy's Lamentation," have appeared in the video game FATE.

Many guitar players also adapt Carolan's music for their instruments. They often change the guitar's tuning to make it sound more like a harp.

Carolan's Compositions

Here is a list of the 214 compositions that are known to be by Carolan, in alphabetical order:

Some other pieces have also been linked to Carolan:

• "Athlone" (215)
• "Banks of the Shannon" (216)
• "Farewell to Lough Neaghe" (219)
• "Irish Galloway Tom" (220)
• "The Lamentation of Ireland" (221)

Other Facts About Carolan

• O'Carolan Road in Dublin is named after him.
• Carolan Road and "Carolan Corner" shop in Belfast are also named in his honor.
• A crater on the planet Mercury was named Carolan in 2015.
• Polish bands 2 plus 1 and Myslovitz recorded popular songs called "Peggy Brown." These songs are said to be based on an old O'Carolan lyric, but they use different tunes.
• O'Carolan's picture is on the £50 note of Ireland's Series B Banknote.

See also

• List of people on the postage stamps of Ireland
• Music of Ireland