A complete collection of Carolan''s music is available in standard notation and ABC at this link: http://www.oldmusicproject.com/occ/tunes.html
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Turlough O'Carolan, widely regarded as Ireland national composer, was born in 1670 in, County Meath. He died on March 25, 1738 at the home of his patron Mrs. MacDermott Roe in Alderford, County Roscommon. Carolan’s well deserved fame rose from his skill as composer of music and verse. He spent forty years traveling throughout Ireland composing and performing for the upper class. Roughly two-hundred-twenty of his tunes have been compiled and are widely performed.
Carolan’s father was employed by Mrs. MacDermott Roe to work on her estate as a farmer or blacksmith. Mrs. MacDermott Roe liked young Turlough and gave him the benefit of an education. He showed immediate talent for poetry and music. Scholars believe that Ruari dall, who lived on the MacDermott Roe estate may have been the one to teach Carolan how to to play the harp. At age 18 Carolan was blinded by high fever caused by smallpox. His study of the harp apparenatly lasted for three years. At the end of that time, Mrs. MacDermott Roe gave him a harp, a horse and some money and sent him on a forty-five year journey as an itinerant harper. |
Ledgend has it that Carolan’s first patron, George Reynolds of County Leitrim suggested that rather than simply performing well known tunes, Carolan should try composing. Carolan follwed the advice and, according to ledgend, composed Sheebeg and Sheemore.
In 1738 Carolan returned to the Mrs. MacDermott Roe estate. He died several days later. His funeral drew a large number of people and the wake is said to have lasted four days.
Carolan's full name in Irish gaelic is Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin. The English version of his name would be Turlough or Terence Carolan.
When full names are written in Gaelic it is customary to add the Ó prefix. Carolan referred to himself as Cearbhallán, not Ó Cearbhallán. Elegies written for the famous harper and composer identified him as Carolan - not O'Carolan. Turlough O’Carolan and his friends probably used the name Cearbhallán or Carolan.
The most definitive biography of Carolan is Donal O'Sullivan’s Carolan The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper. Shorter biographies can be found at these links.
Biographies of Turlough O’Carolan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlough_O%27Carolan
http://www.contemplator.com/carolan/carlnbio.html
Music
The complete works of Turlough O’Carolan are availbe at no cost at this link:
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/occ/tunes.html
Grave
Carolan is buried in County Roscommon
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5859259/turlough-o'carolan
A centotaph commemorating his life is in place at St. Patrick’s Cathederal, Dublin
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21793354/turlough-o'carolan
In 1738 Carolan returned to the Mrs. MacDermott Roe estate. He died several days later. His funeral drew a large number of people and the wake is said to have lasted four days.
Carolan's full name in Irish gaelic is Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin. The English version of his name would be Turlough or Terence Carolan.
When full names are written in Gaelic it is customary to add the Ó prefix. Carolan referred to himself as Cearbhallán, not Ó Cearbhallán. Elegies written for the famous harper and composer identified him as Carolan - not O'Carolan. Turlough O’Carolan and his friends probably used the name Cearbhallán or Carolan.
The most definitive biography of Carolan is Donal O'Sullivan’s Carolan The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper. Shorter biographies can be found at these links.
Biographies of Turlough O’Carolan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlough_O%27Carolan
http://www.contemplator.com/carolan/carlnbio.html
Music
The complete works of Turlough O’Carolan are availbe at no cost at this link:
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/occ/tunes.html
Grave
Carolan is buried in County Roscommon
A centotaph commemorating his life is in place at St. Patrick’s Cathederal, Dublin