Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary

Subject: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Thompson
Date: 22 Nov 18 - 11:13 AM

I've come across a reference in an early 20th century letter to "Poor old John O'Leary", and suspect it's from a song, probably a Tipperary song. Can anyone give me a lead?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 22 Nov 18 - 03:11 PM

From the TIMES of April 27th 1923, .... JOHN O'LEARY (of Clare Road, Ennis) was sentenced to death for his part in the death of a soldier; this sentence being commuted to 10 years penal servitude. ...

What makes you suspect that it's from a song??

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 22 Nov 18 - 03:38 PM

The line .. "Poor John O'Leary, I'm afraid you've lost your gal" .. appears in the chorus of the song
Down by the Erie
written in 1915 by George M . Cohen for a broadway show.

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Thompson
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 11:50 AM

Hm... no, the reference is from 1911. The context makes it sound like a song, and the writer was a folkie from Tipp.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 23 Nov 18 - 01:26 PM

Try putting .. "Fenian John O'Leary" .. into Google.

Lots of references to John O'Leary - (1830, Tipperary - 1907, Dublin) a noted Fenian & supporter of Irish independence. His sister was Ellen O'Leary -(1831, Tipperary - 1889, Dublin) a poet and he was admired by the poet Yeats who refers to him in his poem "September 1913"

E.G.    O'Leary biography

So, .. it gives you a link to Tipperary!

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Poor old John O'Leary
From: Thompson
Date: 24 Nov 18 - 12:15 AM

That was my first thought but a in 1911 the Fenian John O’Leary was alive, and the writer would have known him or known of him. He was regarded with reverence, whereas this reference is light-hearted. Oh well, I suppose the reference is lost now.