"The Bard of Armagh" Traditional Irish Poem Animation

Get the latest Flash player

poetryanimations
October 22, 2008

Heres a virtual movie of the traditinal Irish poem/Ballad "The Bard of Armagh". The Poem is read by the late distinguished Irish poet and actor Thomas O'flaherty. The Bard of Armagh is an Irish b...

Heres a virtual movie of the traditinal Irish poem/Ballad "The Bard of Armagh".

The Poem is read by the late distinguished Irish poet and actor Thomas O'flaherty.

The Bard of Armagh is an Irish ballad. It is thought to be Patrick Donnelly. He was made Bishop of Dromore in 1697, the same year as the issuance of the Bishops Banishment Act. Donnelly is believed to have taken the name of the travelling harper Phelim Brady.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, however, Donnelly is listed in the government's register of "popish" clergy, dated 1704, as a priest in Newry, Co. Armagh.

The song itself, like many heroic, rebel outlaw ballads, dates from the mid 19th century. The same melody is used in the songs "The Sailor Cut Down in his Prime" and "The Streets of Laredo".

Kind Regards

Jim Clark
All rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2008

The Bard of Armagh..

Oh list' to the lay of a poor Irish harper,
And scorn not the strings in his old withered hands,
But remember those fingers, they once could move sharper,
To raise up the strains of his dear native land.
It was long before the shamrock, dear Isle's lovely emblem,
Was crushed in its beauty by the Saxon's lion paw,
And all the pretty colleens around me would gather,
Called me their bold Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh.
How I love to muse on the days of my boyhood,
Though four score and three years have fled by since then.
Still it gives sweet reflection, as every young joys should,
For the merry-hearted boys make the best of old men.
At a fair or a wake I would twist my shillelagh,
And trip through a dance with my brogues tied with straw.
There all the pretty maidens around me would gather,
Called me their bold Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh.
In truth I have wandered this wide world over,
Yet Ireland's my home and a dwelling for me.
And, oh, let the turf that my old bones shall cover
Be cut from the land that is trod by the free.
And when Sergeant Death in his cold arms doth embrace me,
And lulls me to sleep with old 'Erin-go-Bragh',
By the side of my Kathleen, my dear pride, oh, place me,
Then forget Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh.

Category: Music

Tags:

poem animation bard armagh yeats oscar wilde james joyce padraic colum irish traditional poetry poet

More From: poetryanimations

Play All Stop Autoplaying | Play Next

QuickList(0)

Clear | Save

20 ratings

5,612 views

Favorite

Playlists

Flag

Want to add to Favorites? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Want to add to Playlists? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Want to flag a video? Sign In or Sign Up now!

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

This video has no Responses. Be the first to Post a Video Response.

Text Comments (4) Options

johnofthewired (6 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

such a beautiful poem, sad and proud as it should be.

BoriChumba (7 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

wonderful!!! It reminds me of when I was a child and my father and uncles telling us stories and poems by the fire siiighh lovely memories!

lorgain2 (7 months ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

What a magnificent voice, from an Armagh man, my thanks.

Outrun37 (1 year ago) Show Hide

Marked as spam

very nice and first to comment woot!

Showing 4 of 4 comments

Show More Comments

View All 4 comments

Would you like to comment?

Join YouTube for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

YouTube	Programs	Help	Policy	Discover
Contact Us	Advertising	Get Help	Privacy Policy	YouTube on Your Phone
YouTube Store	Developers	YouTube Handbook	Terms of Service	YouTube on Your Site
Press Room	Partnerships	Community Help Forums	Copyright Notices	YouTube on Your TV
Business Blog	Content Management	Safety Center	Community Guidelines	YouTube RSS Feeds
YouTube Blog		Creator's Corner		TestTube

Add YouTube to your Google homepage

Current Location: Worldwide Show locations

"The Bard of Armagh" Traditional Irish Poem Animation

More From: poetryanimations

QuickList(0)

Related Videos

Statistics & Data

Video Responses (0)

Text Comments (4) Options

Would you like to comment?