One of the most prolific collections of poems, ballads and songs from County Leitrim is that compiled by poet Bernard Gray and printed by John Rourke and sons in Carrick on Shannon in 1909 – “Songs and Stories of Leitrim” As well as many poems and ballads written by Gray himself, the book also comprises “ a brief history of Leitrim County, biographies of prominent Leitrim men, professional and business circles, principal schools and teachers and sketches of Leitrim towns and places of interest”.
Bernard Gray who was born at Finiskill near Mohill was well known as a poet in his locality in the early 1900s, often simply referenced as “The Poet Gray”.
The Leitrim Leader
Here is an account of his life from an article in “The Leitrim Leader” from January 6th 1951 after the poet had passed away.
Local Ballads
As was the case with most local poetry, there is evidence that many of Gray’s ballads were written to be sung and indeed, many of them were sung in the locality. Here is one of Leitrim’s most recorded ballad singers, Thomas Moran singing Gray’s “Sheemore Fair Near Carrick Town”
B Gray Songs and Stories of Leitrim
See the full collection from Bernard Gray’s “Songs & Stories of Leitrim”
