School: Gowna
- Location:
- Scrabby, Co. Cavan
- Teacher: Hugh Murray
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0986, Page 005
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- XML School: Gowna
- XML Page 005
- XML “Blind Berney Reilly The Fiddler”
- XML “The Carman of Bruice”
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On this page
- In the last century there lived in Dingins a famous fiddler named Berney Reilly. He was born blind, but he was gifted as a musician. He made his living by playing at crossroad-dances and dances in country barns. All the money collected was given to him.
It was supposed that he was the best fiddler in Ireland. If he played outside, the music could be heard three miles away. He died about fifty or sixty years ago. Besides being a fiddler he was also a song maker, and here are a few lines of one of his songs.
- Come all you County Cavan boys draw near and I'll unfold,
Of our bold undaunted car-man upon the Dublin road.
His name was Thomas Reilly of honour and of fame,
At the dead and dismal hour of night a highway-man he slain.(continues on next page) - Collector
- Peadar Ó Caráin
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Dingins, Co. Cavan
