School: Whitecross, Julianstown (roll number 3380)

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1. A Great Irish Writer and Poet

   

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   Thomas O'Brien was a great writer and poet. He lived at a place called Keenogue. He got hurt when quite a young boy he got caught in the wheel of a cart and was never able to work any more. He wrote several books including books of poems which he sold at ten Shillings each. He was a great Politician. People often came from a great distance for his advice during the days of the Land League. He died about fifty years of age and was buried in Moorchurch Cemetery. Some time after he was buried, the people from Drogheda and all the districts for miles around subscribed and bought a headstone to place over his grave, the epitaph on the headstone was engraved in Gaelic. The day this headstone was unveiled there were over a thousand people present including a number of priest. There was a Fr Murtagh in the Parish of Stamullen who was a great friend of Thomas O'Brien's. He use to drive him to all the Land League meetings. When his sister died sixteen years ago his grave was opened and he was still there just the same as the day he was buried although he was over thirty years buried. A monument was erected in his memory and was unveiled by the Mayor of Drogheda and the Rev Fr Curry parish priest of Drogheda. A Drogheda priest wrote a poem about him

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Chrissie O Brien

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Sarsfieldstown, Co. Meath

   Informant

   Joseph Wiseman

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Keenoge, Co. Meath