Heres a virtual movie of the Irish poet and patriot Francis Ledwidge reading his sad and beautiful short poem for his friend and fellow Irish nationalist poet "Lament for Thomas McDonagh" .This lament for the slain poet McDonagh evokes the lost poetical senses of the 1916 leader. Ledwidge encapsulates in a few short lines the senstivity of the poet. Ledwidge forsees better times ahead for Ireland. He wistfully hopes that the executed McDonagh might see his patriotic sacrifice as instrumental in the betterment of the Irish nation
Francis Edward Ledwidge (19 August 1887 -- 31 July 1917) was an Irish war poet from County Meath. Sometimes known as the "poet of the blackbirds", he was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I.
Thomas MacDonagh (Irish: Tomás Mac Donnchadha) (1 February 1878 -- 3 May 1916) was an Irish nationalist, poet, playwright, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Though credited as one of the Easter Rising's seven leaders, MacDonagh was a late addition to that group. He didn't join the secret Military Council that planned the rising until April 1916, weeks before the rising took place. The reason for his admittance at such a late date is uncertain. Still a relative newcomer to the IRB, men such as Clarke may have been hesitant to elevate him to such a high position too soon, which raises the question as to why he should be admitted at all. His close ties to Pearse and Plunkett may have been the cause, as well as his position as commandant of the Dublin Brigade (though his position as such would later be superseded by James Connolly as commandant-general of the Dublin division). Nevertheless, MacDonagh was a signatory of the Proclamation of the Republic.
During the rising, MacDonagh's battalion was stationed at the massive complex of Jacob's Biscuit Factory. On the way to this destination the battalion encountered the veteran Fenian, John MacBride, who on the spot joined the battalion as second-in-command, and in fact took over part of the command throughout Easter Week, although he had had no prior knowledge and was in the area by accident. MacDonagh's original second in command was Michael O'Hanrahan.[7]
As it was, despite MacDonagh's rank and the fact that he commanded one of the strongest battalions, they saw little fighting, as the British Army avoided the factory as they established positions in central Dublin. MacDonagh received the order to surrender on April 30, though his entire battalion was fully prepared to continue the engagement. Following the surrender, MacDonagh was court martialled, and executed by firing squad on 3 May 1916, aged thirty-eight.
His widow died of heart failure while swimming in Skerries, Co Dublin on July 9, 1917; his son Donagh MacDonagh became a prominent poet, playwright, songwriter and judge. He died in 1968. In addition, his extended family were spread across the British Isles in the Irish diaspora.
Kind Regards
Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2011
Thomas McDonagh He shall not hear the bittern cry
In the wild sky, where he is lain,
Nor voices of the sweeter birds,
Above the wailing of the rain.
Nor shall he know when loud March blows
Thro' slanting snows her fanfare shrill,
Blowing to flame the golden cup
Of many an upset daffodil.
But when the Dark Cow leaves the moor
And pastures poor with greedy weeds
Perhaps he'll hear her low at morn
Lifting her horn in pleasant meads.
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Thomas Clarke execution sceneby Oidhreachta16,269 views
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