Riocard Bairéad (aka Dici or Dick Buiread, Richard Barrett) (b.1735–40 – d. 1818/19 ), was an Irish poet and satirist best remembered for his songs Eoghan Coir,[1] a mock lament for a landlord's bailiff, and "Preab san Ól",[2] a drinking song which is said to sum up "his merry philosophy of life".[3] He was among the United Irishmen in his native County Mayo who survived their French-assisted insurrection in August 1798. Bairéad wrote in both Irish and English, and in a macaronic mixture of the two. His satirical style that has been compared both to Jonathan Swift[4] and to Robbie Burns.[5]
Lifeedit
Bairéad was born at Barrack near Ely Bay in Belmullet, with sources giving varying dates between 1735 and 1740, a descendant of the Norman Barretts. He eloped with and married Nancy Tollett, daughter of a prosperous Protestant landlord, and after her death would marry Maire Ní Mhóráin with whom he had two children. The family lived relatively isolated in a small cottage on a five-acre farm in Carna.[3] He taught in a small school in the areas. After his death, Maire, who thought little of his poetry, burnt his papers.[6]
Bairéad was a member of the Society of United Irishmen and when in August 1798 1,100 French troops under General Humbert landed in Killala he "turned out" with other rebels. According to local lore he served as pikeman with the French when they put to flight a much large force of loyalist militia in the so-called Races of Castlebar. After the French surrender in September he was arrested but indicted for incitement rather than armed participation he was released after three months.[3] As pointed out by historian Guy Beiner, Bairéad's poetry does not reflect on his experiences in 1798.[7]
At the time of the centenary celebrations for the 1798 rebellion a ballad, "The Men of The West", was set to the air of "Eoghan Coir".
The poem engraved on his tomb stone at Cross Point, to the west of Belmullet, at one point read:
His grave fell into a bad state of disrepair and his bones were nearly washed into the Atlantic Ocean after a wild storm. Well-wishers from the town of Belmullet shored up the cemetery wall to ensure another few years of existence for the poet's last resting place.[citation needed]
Coláiste Riocard Bairéad is named after him. The Irish summer college belongs to Gael Linn
Referencesedit
^"Eoghan Coir, Songs from Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland | mayo-ireland.ie". www.mayo-ireland.ie. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^"Preab san Ól lyrics and chords". SongsInIrish.com. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^ abcHegarty, Fr. Kevin (27 July 2009). "An Erris Poet. The Mayo News". www.mayonews.ie. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^"Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press". dib.cambridge.org. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^"Richard Barrett, the Bard of Mayo, from the Gaelic Journal, December 1894". dúchas.ie. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
^Beiner, Guy (2006). Remembering the Year of the French: Irish Folk History and Social Memory. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 87.
^"Riocard Bairead, People from Co. Mayo Ireland | mayo-ireland.ie". www.mayo-ireland.ie. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
Nicholas Williams, ed., Riocard Bairéad: amhráin (Dublin: An Clóchomhar, 1978)
Éigse: a journal of Irish studies 16/3 (1976) Ó Concheanainn (Tomás), (Editor), National University of Ireland, Vol. 16, pp. 171–250.
Beiner, Guy (2004) 'Who were "the Men of the West"? Folk historiographies and the reconstruction of democratic histories', Folklore, 115:2, 201-221
Dunne, Tom (1998), '"Subaltern Voices?" Poetry in Irish, Popular Insurgency and the 1798 Rebellion', Eighteenth-Century Life - Volume 22, Number 3, November 1998, pp. 31–44, Duke University Press
riocard, bairéad, dici, dick, buiread, richard, barrett, 1735, 1818, irish, poet, satirist, best, remembered, songs, eoghan, coir, mock, lament, landlord, bailiff, preab, drinking, song, which, said, merry, philosophy, life, among, united, irishmen, native, co. Riocard Bairead aka Dici or Dick Buiread Richard Barrett b 1735 40 d 1818 19 was an Irish poet and satirist best remembered for his songs Eoghan Coir 1 a mock lament for a landlord s bailiff and Preab san ol 2 a drinking song which is said to sum up his merry philosophy of life 3 He was among the United Irishmen in his native County Mayo who survived their French assisted insurrection in August 1798 Bairead wrote in both Irish and English and in a macaronic mixture of the two His satirical style that has been compared both to Jonathan Swift 4 and to Robbie Burns 5 Life editBairead was born at Barrack near Ely Bay in Belmullet with sources giving varying dates between 1735 and 1740 a descendant of the Norman Barretts He eloped with and married Nancy Tollett daughter of a prosperous Protestant landlord and after her death would marry Maire Ni Mhorain with whom he had two children The family lived relatively isolated in a small cottage on a five acre farm in Carna 3 He taught in a small school in the areas After his death Maire who thought little of his poetry burnt his papers 6 Bairead was a member of the Society of United Irishmen and when in August 1798 1 100 French troops under General Humbert landed in Killala he turned out with other rebels According to local lore he served as pikeman with the French when they put to flight a much large force of loyalist militia in the so called Races of Castlebar After the French surrender in September he was arrested but indicted for incitement rather than armed participation he was released after three months 3 As pointed out by historian Guy Beiner Bairead s poetry does not reflect on his experiences in 1798 7 At the time of the centenary celebrations for the 1798 rebellion a ballad The Men of The West was set to the air of Eoghan Coir The poem engraved on his tomb stone at Cross Point to the west of Belmullet at one point read Why spend your leisure bereft of pleasure Amassing treasure Why scrape and save Why look so canny at every penny You ll take no money into the grave 8 His grave fell into a bad state of disrepair and his bones were nearly washed into the Atlantic Ocean after a wild storm Well wishers from the town of Belmullet shored up the cemetery wall to ensure another few years of existence for the poet s last resting place citation needed Colaiste Riocard Bairead is named after him The Irish summer college belongs to Gael LinnReferences edit Eoghan Coir Songs from Co Mayo in the West of Ireland mayo ireland ie www mayo ireland ie Retrieved 18 March 2021 Preab san ol lyrics and chords SongsInIrish com Retrieved 18 March 2021 a b c Hegarty Fr Kevin 27 July 2009 An Erris Poet The Mayo News www mayonews ie Retrieved 18 March 2021 Crowe Noelene Beckett Riocard Bairead Richard Barrett Our Irish Heritage Retrieved 18 March 2021 Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge University Press dib cambridge org Retrieved 18 March 2021 Richard Barrett the Bard of Mayo from the Gaelic Journal December 1894 duchas ie Retrieved 18 March 2021 Beiner Guy 2006 Remembering the Year of the French Irish Folk History and Social Memory Madison WI University of Wisconsin Press p 87 Riocard Bairead People from Co Mayo Ireland mayo ireland ie www mayo ireland ie Retrieved 18 March 2021 Nicholas Williams ed Riocard Bairead amhrain Dublin An Clochomhar 1978 Eigse a journal of Irish studies 16 3 1976 o Concheanainn Tomas Editor National University of Ireland Vol 16 pp 171 250 Beiner Guy 2004 Who were the Men of the West Folk historiographies and the reconstruction of democratic histories Folklore 115 2 201 221 Dunne Tom 1998 Subaltern Voices Poetry in Irish Popular Insurgency and the 1798 Rebellion Eighteenth Century Life Volume 22 Number 3 November 1998 pp 31 44 Duke University Press Binghamstown National School research http www binghamstownns com riocard bairead html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Riocard Bairead amp oldid 1189122050, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
