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800Years IrishPolitical, Literary&MilitaryHistory - 15thApril2014
245 PEADARóCEARNAIGH [KEARNEY], 1883-1942],
writer of ‘ASoldiers’ Song’.
The original manuscript of the words of his song ‘Dora’, 2 pp (single folded sheet, from a
copybook), with amendments, signed and dated 19.1.18; also with the music manuscript,
music and words both in his hand, 3 pp quartomusic ms. paper, marginal tears (no loss),
somewhat stained; also a pencilled cover design inKearney’s hand. ‘You can sing it, whis-
tle it, or waltz it: A LoveDitty onTrue BlueWest British Lines,Words &Music by Peadar
O Cearnaigh ..’; and finally a manuscript receipt signed by O Cearnaigh on Gaelic Press
notepaper, for ‘the sum of two pounds 6/- in payment of a/c for 100 copies ‘Soldiers Song’.
While it has the appearance of an inoffensive love-song, ‘DORA’ in fact stands for De-
fence Of the Realm Act, and would have been recognised as such by any Irish Re-
publican of the time; there are various double-entendres in the words. D.O.R.A. was
first introduced in 1914, and later extended. It gave the British authorities exten-
sive emergency powers of arrest, detention, relocation and execution. For example,
it provided the authority under which the 1916 leaders were arrested and executed.
PeadarKearneywasanearlymemberoftheIRBandtheIrishVolunteers,andfoughtintheGPO
in1916. ‘ASoldiers’ Song’was first composedas amarching song for theVolunteers, and first
publishedintheIRBpaper ‘IrishFreedom’. Kearneywrotemanyothersongs,bothpoliticaland
otherwise,andwasthebest-knownIrishsong-writerofhisday.HewasacousinofBrendanBehan.
As a collection,w.a.f.
€600 - 800
246 KEARNEY, Peadar.
A rare printing of The Soldier’s Song. Words by Peadar OCearnaigh. Music by Padraig O
hAonaigh. Arranged byCathalMacDubhghaill. Quarto. 4 pp. folded. Previous owner’s sig-
nature on titlepage, dated 1933. Dublin, circa 1933. Frayed at edges. In 1907 he wrote the
words of ‘The Soldier’s Song’, andhis friendPatrickHeeney, wrote themusic. It became the
marching song of the Irish Volunteers and in 1926 became our national anthem. He also
wrote other popular songs including ‘Downby theGlenSide’, ‘TheThreeColouredRibbon’,
etc. Rare.
€200 - 300
247 KEARNEY, Peadar.
Two rare depictions of Peadar Kearney. Aphotograpghwithhis sonPearse seated on table,
dressed in a kilt, circa 1915; the second after a sketch by SeanO’Sullivan, signed by Peadar
Kearney. Approx. 10.5 x 14cm. Framed. Peadar Kearney (1883-1942), was the author of the
Irishnational anthem. Born inDublin, anuncle of BrendanBehan, he grewup inDolphin’s
Barn andwas educated atModel School, Schoolhouse Lane andMarinoCBS. He left school
at fourteenandworked inavarietyof jobs.He joined theGaelicLeague in1901andbecamea
member of the IrishRepublicanBrotherhood in1903. In excellent condition.
€300 - 400
248 [KEARNEY, Peter]
Commandant Peter Kearney. Tributes toHisMemory. Illustrated. Published by The Com-
mandant Peter KearneyMemorial Committee, circa 1970. [ii], 24 pp. Signed by TomBarry,
Moss Twomey, CharlieHaughey, and Eamonn de Barra. Includes tributes fromTomBarry,
EamonndeBarraandothers.PeterKearneywasCommandantof theDunmanwayBattalion,
3rdWest Cork Brigade of the Old I.R.A. - no relation to the song-writer Peadar Kearney.
Fine.
€100 - 150
