Much has been written about William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim known most commonly as “Lord Leitrim”. Probably most famous due to his assassination in 1878, Clements also gained infamy because of his treatment of tenants and his supposed mistreatment of women.
Lough Rynn Estate itself wouldn’t have been well known as a supporter of Irish traditional music per se, but many of its poorer tenants, just like their contemporaries throughout the county, would have whiled away some nights in their kitchens being entertained by local musicians, singers, dancers and poets.
There are, however, reports of Lough Rynn Fife and Drum Band having played to a warm reception at the Harvest Home Festivals on the estate in the 1890’s.
And there are other perspectives of life under Lord Leitrim’s reign to be gleaned from some of the songs and poems composed and sang about him.
Stair Gortleitrach
One of many articles to be found in Leitrim Local Studies local publications depicting life under Lord Leitrim’s regime and the circumstances leading up to his assassination
Lord Leitrim and leading up to his assassination
Courtesy of ” Scéal Gortleitreach” published by Gortletteragh GAA Club in 1991
Further Resources
A great resource for all things Lough Rynn and Mohill history related, from local researcher, author and historian, Fiona Slevin.
For further information on the Clement’s history, Lough Rynn and Lord Leitrim, click on the following links:
Extracts from 2 letters from the 3rd Earl of Leitrim
Irish History – William Sydney Clements
This is Milford – Earls of Leitrim
Lord Leitrim has been causing intrigue for years, as evidenced in this RTÉ advertisement for a series in ‘The Irish Press’, in which Seamus Brady uses the secret diaries of Lord Leitrim to reveal the real Lord Leitrim and the mysteries surrounding his violent death.
Tyranny – a short documentary film by Mohill’s Alan Early
The Assassination in Song
A few songs were written about the demise of Lord Leitrim and they were well sung around the locality.
The most well known and most recorded being the one that starts “Ye men of Tipperary…” one that many locals sang and which appears in the Dúchas Schools collection a few times with a variation in lyrics in places:
Here’s an unusual version from Kilnagross, collected by Annie Tighe from Patrick McNabola, both from Corderry:
Another one that seems to have been well known and also recorded by a few people begins “You gallant sons of Erin’s Isle”
Check for one version here : Dúchas – Mohill
And a recording of one of Leitrim’s most recorded ballad singers, Thomas Moran from the RTE archives:
Thomas Moran – Lord Leitrim – RTE archives
And even well known artists like Dónal Maguire and Jody Stecher have recorded their versions.
And a local rendition from Dromod man Mick O’ Hara as recorded in 1991 in “The Railway Bar” Dromod.
Songs, Stories & Poetry
The poems, stories and songs written, recited and sung by locals at the time of Lord Leitrim’s reign give us an interesting insight into some of the happenings and feelings of the mostly peasant people of the area.
The Eviction of Jack Rynn/ Jackie McRann, Cloonfannon
John McCrann (click to read more)
This account tells us ” About 70 years ago there lived in Esker a man named John McCrann who had two daughters, Brigid, Eliza and a son John, and at this time John the father was a widower, his wife being dead many years. He like a good many others fell into arrears of rent with the Landlord the Infernal tyrant Lord Leitrim who was shot in Donegal. Lord Leitrim evicted McCrann from his home and any neighbour who gave him shelter on the property met with the same fate.
John’s only plan was to go to Cloonfannon Lake, and there he built a house to live in…”
Jack Mc Crann (click to read more)
Whilst this account tells us that Jackie McCrann “had a family of five daughters and one son. Lord Leitrim took a fancy to his beautiful daughters and he wanted them for maids in his castle. Jack McCrann refused to send his daughters to him. Lord Leitrim evicted him to have satisfaction and none of the tenants on the property could give him a house or shelter.
He had to go to an island on the Cloonfanon lake and he built a house where he and his family lived for ten years.”
Cloonfannon or Cloonfinnan Lake
The Pulling Down of Gartletra (Gortletteragh) Chapel
In 1860, a local incident led to the composition of a ballad which has appeared in printed form on ballad sheets that were collected as far away as the United States
Library Company of Philadelphia
and it also appeared in publications such as James N. Healy’s book of old Irish street ballads.
A letter submitted by Lord Leitrim to the papers on August 4th 1860 gives some insight from his perspective:
My Friends,
You are aware that in paying rent to me for the lands of Gortletteragh, the Roman Catholic clergyman disputed my title to that part of the lands on which the chapel stands, and assserted that it belonged to the parish, and not to me. Under these circumstances it became necessary for me to take legal proceedings for the maintenance of my rights; but I did not follow up such proceedings without first offering a lease of the chapel to the Roman Catholic bishop, in a letter addressed to the clergyman who had disputed my title, a copy of which letter was at the same time laid before the bishop, and which offer was rejected; defence being then taken to such proceedings by the priest of the parish, the action was tried at the last Spring Assizes, when a verdict was given in my favour, and an habere was issued empowering the High Sheriff to give me the possession.
On the 15th June instant, the Sub-Sheriff attended at Gortletteragh to give me the possession; on that occasion the house part of the lands were given to me, but on the Sub-Sheriff going to give me possession of the Chapel, and the plantation surrounding it, he was refused the key by the priest, and in the presence of the priest, was resisted in the exercise of his duty by a mob collected from a distance and strangers to the locality.
Under these circumstances, and to carry the law into effect without any unnecessary breach of the peace, the Sub-Sheriff retired, and the High Sheriff found it necessary to apply to the Government for protection to enable him to execute the Queen’s writ.
On this day the Sheriff having assembled a sufficient force of military and police, proceeded again to Gortletteragh, and gave me the possession of the chapel and the grounds adjoining, and I have now placed the chapel in the hands of two Roman Catholic parishioners of the parish, to be held by them in trust, for the uses as heretofore for the celebration of Divine worship, according to the forms of the Church of Rome.
For more history of Clements and the lead up to the event which inspired the song, read Liam Dolan’s article:
The Pulling Down of Esker School
Local nationalist poet John McDonald or J. McD as he was better known in poetry circles records in verse the events surrounding the demolition of Esker school, in Bornacoola, by Lieutenant-Colonel Clements. He prefaces the verses “Down With The School” as having been “sung by Lieutenant-Colonel Clements, D.L.” lending to their sarcasm and explains;
“A dispute having arisen between Colonel Clements and the parish priest of Bornacoola about the management of Esker school, the gallant colonel settled the matter by levelling the schoolhouse and bringing the materials to Lough Rynn.”
