Patrick Joseph McCall

Patrick Joseph McCall (6 March 1861 – 8 March 1919) was an Irish songwriter and poet, known mostly as the author of lyrics for popular ballads: "Follow me up to Carlow", "The Boys of Wexford", "Boolavogue, The Lowlands Low and "Kelly the Boy from Killanne". The Wexford ballads dealing with the 1798 Rising were put to music by Arthur Warren Darley.

Life

He was born at 25 Patrick St, Dublin, Ireland, the son of John McCall, a publican and grocer. He attended St. Joseph’s Monastery, Harold's Cross, a Catholic University School.[1]

He spent his summer holidays in Rathangan, County Wexford where he spent time with local musicians and ballad singers. He also collected many old Irish airs, but is probably best remembered for his patriotic ballads. He married Margaret Furlong, a sister of the poet Alice Furlong, in 1901.[2]

Writings

His manuscript Ballad Collection is in the National Library of Ireland.

References

  1. ^ Boylan, Henry (1998). A Dictionary of Irish Biography, 3rd Edition. Dublin: Gill and MacMillan. p. 235. ISBN 0-7171-2945-4. 
  2. ^ 1911 census returns