Killyleagh.

The Harbour | Sir Hans Sloan | Killyleagh up to 1937 | Images of Old Killyleagh

During the first out break of the famine (1845) Killyleagh was badly affected and many victims were buried at the old Killowen cemetery at the foot of the castle. This graveyard like many in the area has a stile, which was immortalized in a song The Irish emigrant. The words were written by Helen Selina Sheridan (1807-1867) grand daughter of the celebrated Irish dramatist Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Her sister Caroline Norton was a well known writer. She married the Hon Price Blackwood later Lord Dufferin. .

Lady Dufferin was inspired to write this poem by a chance meeting as she strolled down a country lane at the foot of Killyleagh castle. There she met a young man, Phelim Magennis sitting forlornly on the stile, asking him why he was so sad. He told her that he had just buried his wife Mary and their young son. They had both died of cholera and he was leaving for America.

Moved by this sad tale she wrote the Irish Emigrant. This ballad was universally popular all over the world particularly in America. Where it was printed both in major anthologies and penny song books. It came out on gramophone records by various Irish tenor's including Count John McCormack. It was so popular that it was parodied many times in cheap music hall song books. The music was composed by G. Baker and the style of sentimental music is quite dated. The tune its self is not very memorable

Read about Killyleagh in an extract from Samuel Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.

Visit the website of Killyleagh Library.