William Percy French was born at Cloonyquin House, Co. Roscommon on May 1st, 1854. Led a privileged life as the son of a Doctor of Law and a Justice of the Peace.Went to College in England (Windemere) when he was 13 years of age, then to Trinity colege Dublin. He and fellow student Charles Mansergh were buskers at Punchestown Races as dixie minstrels. Eight years later he gained his engineering degree. Worked as an engineer in Co. Cavan. Married Ettie Armitage-Moore in 1890, gave up engineering to become editior of a humourous magazine "the Jarvey". His wife died in childbirth one year after the marriage. Before her death he wrote an Opera " The Knight of the Road" later called "The Irish Girl". He started to enterain about this tine and became very popular.He then met Helen Mat Sheldon who became his second wife. Years later he moved to London and lived at 27 Clifton Hill. He died in 24 January 1920 and is buried in the churchyard of Formby about 10 miles from Liverpool. Some of his best Irish songs include the following.
The Mountains of Mourne
Innismeela
Come Back, Paddy Reilly
Phil the Fluter's Ball
Ach, I Dunno
Eileen Oge
An Irish Mother
To The West
Whistlin Phil McHugh
Mrs. Brady
Gortnamona
Are ye right there Michael ?.
Darling Girl from Clarwe
McBreen's Heifer
In Exile
Rafferty's Racing Mare
Abdul Abulbul Ameer
Song of William, Inspector of Drains
The Mary Ann Mc Hugh
Mother's Fairies
The Killyran Wrackers
Carmody's Mare
Sweet Marie
Father O'Callaghan
Mathew Hnaigan's Aunt
The Night Miss Cooney Eloped
Donegan's Daughter
The Emigrant's Letter