John Keegan Casey
Encyclopedia
John Keegan 'Leo' Casey known as the Poet of the Fenians, was an Irish
poet, orator, novelist and Republican
who was famous as the writer of the song "The Rising of the Moon
" and as one of the central figures in the Fenian Rising
of 1867. He was imprisoned by the English and died on St. Patrick's Day in 1870.
to a teacher during the height of the Great Hunger of 1846. Eight years later he moved to Gurteen, near Ballymahon
in County Longford
, when his father was given the post of head master at the local school. Casey's work would come to be closely associated with Ballymahon.
As a teenager he worked as an assistant to his father and was expected to follow him into teaching; however, he was disillusioned by the insufficiently nationalistic nature of the curriculum and spent a great deal of time writing poetry.
It was at this time, reputedly at the age of fifteen, that he wrote his best-known song, "The Rising of the Moon", which commemorates the Irish Rebellion of 1798
.
newspaper, for which he assumed his pen-name of 'Leo'.
In 1866, at the age of 20, he published a collection of poems, entitled A Wreath of Shamrocks; most of the poems therein had already been published elsewhere, primarily in The Nation. The further fame engendered by the success of the book led him to be sought after as a speaker; he addressed mass rallies in Dublin, Liverpool
and London
that year, in the lead up to the Rising.
. Casey was released on the understanding that he would leave for Australia and not return to Ireland. However, he chose to stay on in Dublin in disguise, living as a Quaker and continuing to write and publish in secret.
Following his death, on St. Patrick's Day in 1870, he was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
. The newspapers reported that between fifty and one hundred thousand mourners walked in his funeral procession.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
poet, orator, novelist and Republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
who was famous as the writer of the song "The Rising of the Moon
The Rising of the Moon
"The Rising of the Moon" is an Irish ballad recounting a battle between the United Irishmen and the British Army during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.-Description:...
" and as one of the central figures in the Fenian Rising
Fenian Rising
The Fenian Rising of 1867 was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood .After the suppression of the Irish People newspaper, disaffection among Irish radical nationalists had continued to smoulder, and during the later part of 1866 IRB leader James...
of 1867. He was imprisoned by the English and died on St. Patrick's Day in 1870.
Early life
He was born in Milltown, County WestmeathCounty Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
to a teacher during the height of the Great Hunger of 1846. Eight years later he moved to Gurteen, near Ballymahon
Ballymahon
Ballymahon on the River Inny is a town in the southern part of County Longford, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N55 National secondary road and the R392 regional road. Ballymahon derives its name from Gaelic Baile Mathuna Town of Mahon...
in County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, when his father was given the post of head master at the local school. Casey's work would come to be closely associated with Ballymahon.
As a teenager he worked as an assistant to his father and was expected to follow him into teaching; however, he was disillusioned by the insufficiently nationalistic nature of the curriculum and spent a great deal of time writing poetry.
It was at this time, reputedly at the age of fifteen, that he wrote his best-known song, "The Rising of the Moon", which commemorates the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
.
Fenians
Following the increasing popularity of his songs and ballads at nationalist gatherings, he moved to Dublin in the 1860s and became active in the Fenian movement. He was a major contributor to The NationThe Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
newspaper, for which he assumed his pen-name of 'Leo'.
In 1866, at the age of 20, he published a collection of poems, entitled A Wreath of Shamrocks; most of the poems therein had already been published elsewhere, primarily in The Nation. The further fame engendered by the success of the book led him to be sought after as a speaker; he addressed mass rallies in Dublin, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that year, in the lead up to the Rising.
Imprisonment
When the uprising failed, he was imprisoned without trial for eight months in Mountjoy PrisonMountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison , founded as Mountjoy Gaol, nicknamed The Joy, is a medium security prison located in Phibsboro in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. It has the largest prison population in Ireland.The current prison governor is Mr...
. Casey was released on the understanding that he would leave for Australia and not return to Ireland. However, he chose to stay on in Dublin in disguise, living as a Quaker and continuing to write and publish in secret.
Death
His health had been broken by the treatment he had received in prison, and he died two years later.Following his death, on St. Patrick's Day in 1870, he was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
. The newspapers reported that between fifty and one hundred thousand mourners walked in his funeral procession.