Annals of the Irish Harpers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ... they might have done, if there was no such liquor to be had. At one time, when poor Ned M'Aleer assumed the name of "Leeriano," he went to a Counsellor Stewart of Baillieborough, in the County Cavan, which time Harry Fitzsimmons, the harper, was there. Leeriano was announced. He was ordered to play in the hall as a specimen, where there were some tailors then at work for the servants. Leeriano began to play some Irish tunes, jigs, reels, etc. Mrs Stewart, after some time, came from the parlour to the hall, and told him she was much disappointed, as some of her own countrymen could excel him. M'Aleer, chagrined, started up and exclaimed, "Madam, as you were pleased to order me to play in the hall, I played you tailors' and servants' music, which would otherwise be different." "Damn your soul, you trumping rascal," says one of the snips, bouncing off the floor, and was going to destroy poor M'Aleer with his goose, and if it was not for some interference, he was determined to avenge the mighty insult. Fitzsimmons knew M'Aleer, who undeceived Mrs Stewart respecting his foreign descent, and was probably jealous with him, as M'Aleer was much the best performer. When I left the County Cavan, I rambled into the County of Tyrone, where I fell in occasionally with different harpers. The first and best who claimed my attention was poor Paddy Ryan, my dear lamented friend, next to Hugh O'Neill (hereinafter mentioned). His father was a Munster man, and an excellent performer, and indeed Paddy was not inferior to any man I ever heard on the harp. He was not blind, and, exclusive of what I knew and was informed of him, he was pregnant with sentiments of honour and unlimited friendship to every person, which he evinced to me in a particular m...