Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet

Subject: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: mark gregory
Date: 10 May 11 - 08:45 AM

I have set up a research website in honour of Francis MacNamara aka
Frank the Poet in the year of his bicentenary
Since he died in 1861 it also in the 150th anniversary (sesquicentenary) of his death

Certainly something to celebrate amongst his greatest admirers and carriers of
his work ... the Australian folk community

Frank was perhaps the first industrial poet song/writer in Australia ... most of his compositions were based around protests a conditions, refusals to work (particularly in the Newcastle coal mines) or were celebrations of convict escapes, bushrangers, seizure of ships and of course the death of the monstrous commandant of the Moreton Bay Penal
settlement Captain Patrick Logan. His epic poem The Convict's Tour To Hell (often wrongly titled) is perhaps his best known composition, but his introductory epigram most perfectly sums up his political creed

My name is Frank MacNamara
A native of Cashel, County Tipperary
Sworn to be a Tyrant's foe
And while I live I'll crow

http://www/frankthepoet.com/

My research has turned up a heap of reports from Australian newspapers
as well as the full report of his trial in Kilkenny in 1832

see

http://www.frankthepoet.com/2011/03/kilkenny.html

also a complete report from the Mudgee Western Mail of the coroner's
inquest into his death in 1861

see

http://www.frankthepoet.com/2011/03/poet-death.html

suggestions, corrections, additions etc most welcome

cheers

Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: mark gregory
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 01:01 AM

Bicentennial celebrations August

Ilawarra Folk Club
Friday 5 August 2011
City Diggers Wollongong

Folk Club Concert - Theme Concert - FRANK THE POET -
Mark Gregory will be bringing Frank the Poet's life to life on Friday August 6th at the Illawarra Folk Club's August Concert at the Wollongong City Diggers Club. He will be ably abetted by Gulgong author and singer/songwriter Bob Campbell and local singers Alan Musgrove, Bob McGuinness and John Broomhall.
.........................
Gaelic Club
Saturday 27 August 2011

The Convict Gig to Hell
Celebrating the work of Frank 'The Poet' McNamara (1811 – 1861)
Featuring music and spoken word from
John Dengate, Colleen Burke, Mark Gregory, Margaret and Bob Fagan, The Mahones, Louise Phelan
Plus friends


.........................
Miguel Heatwole Frank The Poet's Anniversary
a presentation of songs, verse, and narrative by Miguel Heatwole
4pm – 6:30pm, Sunday 28th August 2011

52 John Street Erskineville

free of charge - but please RSVP to [e-mail] or 9810 4601

more at at http://www.frankthepoet.com/2011/05/events.html

Subject: RE: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: mark gregory
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 05:53 AM

Frank the Poet: A convict's Tour to Hell - an Australian radio documentary that was broadcast on 5 August and 9 August is now available on line for listening to or downloading as a podcast

August 2012 marks the 151st anniversary of the death of Francis MacNamara, better known in convict Australia as Frank the Poet. According to one of Australia's leading contemporary poets, Les Murray, MacNamara's epic work A Convict's Tour to Hell should be placed right at the beginning of English literature in Australia.

Frank's attitude to the colonial authorities, embodied in this now famous poem, can also be gauged from the punishments he received. Lashed 590 times, he was sent to solitary confinement, to the treadmill, and worked on chain gangs. All through his incarceration, Frank continued to entertain his fellow convicts with his rebellious verse.

see

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/hindsight/frank-the-poet/4126734

cheers

Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 06:24 AM

Thanks for that, Mark.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 07:14 AM

it was a very interesting program

Subject: RE: Origins: Francis MacNamara -Frank the Poet
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 08:52 AM

It's a good program, Mark. Well done.

Bruce