Origins: Bagenal Harvey's Farewell

Subject: DT Correction: Bagenal Harvey's Farewell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 May 22 - 08:27 PM

The song is in the Digital Tradition, but we haven't had any discussion of the song. Frank Harte's version in A Living Voice: The Frank Harte Song Collection is almost the same, with differences noted in italics.

BAGENAL HARVEY'S LAMENT (DT Lyrics) Farewell to Bargy's lofty towers, my father's own estate And farewell to its lovely bowers, my own ancestral seat Farewell each friend and neighbour, that once I well knew there My tenants now will miss the hand that fostered them with care Farewell to Cornelius Grogan, and to Kelly ever true John Coakley and good Father Roche, receive my last adieu And fare-thee-well bold Esmond Kyan, though proud oppression's laws Forbid us to lay down our lives, still we bless the holy cause Farewell my brave Unitedmen, who dearly with me fought Though tyrant might has conquered right, full dearly was it bought And when the sun of freedom shall again upon you shine Oh, then let Bagenal Harvey's name array your battle line Although perchance it may be my fate, in Wexford town to die Oh, bear my body to the tomb wherin my fathers lie And have the solemn service read, in Mayglass holy towers And have twelve young maids from Bargyside, to scatter my grave with flowers So farewell to Bargy's lofty towers, since from you I must part A stranger now may call you his, which with sorrow fills my heart But when at last fate shall decree that Ireland should be free Then Bagenal Harvey's rightful heirs shall be returned to thee

BAGENAL HARVEY'S LAMENT (Frank Harte)[differences in italics] Farewell to Bargy's lofty towers, my father's own estate, And farewell to its lovely bowers, my own ancestral seat, And farewell to kind neighbours, that once I well knew there. My tenants, now, will miss the hand that fostered them with care. Farewell to Cornelius Grogan and to Kelly ever true, John Colclough and good Father Roche receive my last adieu, And fare thee well bold Esmond Kyan though proud oppression's laws, Forbids us to lay down our lives, still we bless the holy cause. Farewell my brave United Men, who bravely with me fought Though tyrant's might has conquered right, full dearly was it bought, And when the sun of freedom shall again upon you shine, Oh, then let Bagenal Harvey's name array your battle line. Although perchance it may be my fate in Wexford town to die, Then bear my body to the tomb wherein my fathers lie And have the solemn service read in Mayglass holy towers And have twelve young maids from Bargy side to scatter my grave with flowers. So farewell to Bargy's lofty towers since from you I must part, A stranger now may call you his, which with sorrow fills my heart, And when at last fate shall decree that Ireland should be free Then Bagenal Harvey's rightful heirs shall be returned to thee

@Irish @rebel
filename[ BAGENALH
TK
APR99

And the Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Bagenal Harvey's Farewell

DESCRIPTION: Harvey bids farewell to his father's estate, his tenants, and "my true United Men who bravely with me fought." If he is executed at Wexford he asks to be buried at his father's tomb. The estate will be returned when Ireland is free.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1998 ("The Croppy's Complaint," Craft Recordings CRCD03 (1998); Terry Moylan notes)
KEYWORDS: rebellion Ireland execution patriotic nonballad recitation
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
June 28, 1798 - Bagenal Harvey is executed in Wexford. (source: Moylan-TheAgeOfRevolution-1776-1815)
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Moylan-TheAgeOfRevolution-1776-1815 90, "Bagenal Harvey's Farewell" (1 text, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Kelly, the Boy from Killane" (character of Bagenal Harvey)
cf. "Croppies Lie Down (II)" (character of Bagenal Harvey)
NOTES [323 words]: Moylan-TheAgeOfRevolution-1776-1815: "the song is modelled on the Jacobite song 'Derwentwater's Farewell'" and was sung to that tune. The last verse of "Bagenal Harvey's Farewell" begins "So farewell to Bargy's lofty towers since from you I must part, A stranger now may call you his ..."; the following lines are from "Derwentwater's Farewell": "Farewell to pleasant Dilston Hall, my father's ancient seat, A stranger now must call thee his ..."
The ballad is recorded on two of the CD's issued around the time of the bicentenial of the 1798 Irish Rebellion. See:
Sean Garvey, "Bagenal Harvey's Farewell" (on "The Croppy's Complaint," Craft Recordings CRCD03 (1998); Terry Moylan notes)
Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "Bagnal Harvey's Farewell" (on Franke Harte and Donal Lunny, "1798 the First Year of Liberty," Hummingbird Records HBCD0014 (1998))
Harte: Harvey "was a Protestant, a popular landlord and ... a senior member of the United Irishmen in Wexford." When the rebellion collapsed Harvey tried to escape but was betrayed, taken, court-martialled, hanged and his head placed on a spike over the Wexford courthouse. "The song was written shortly after 1798 but was only heard as a recitation until an air was put to it by Tommy Mallon. Since then it has been widely sung." - BS
Bagenal Harvey was by no means the best choice to command the Wexford rebels. Although in genuine sympathy with the United Irishmen (the British had put him in prison for this; see Thomas Pakenham, The Year of Liberty, p. 188), he was a Protestant, and a landlord -- and, seemingly, a militarily inept coward. His incompetence was largely responsible for the defeat at New Ross (see the notes to "Kelly, the Boy from Killane"), which led to the gradual but inevitable decline of the Wexford rebellion. Having lost at New Ross, he fled, was captured, an eventually hanged (see the notes to "Croppies Lie Down (II)" and "The Wexford Schooner"). - RBW
File: Moyl090

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2022 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Frank Harte recording (1798: The First Year of Liberty): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2WooOhmZV8

Corrected lyrics from A Living Voice: The Frank Harte Song Collection [edited by Terry Moylan. Craft Recordings, Dublin, 2020 - pages 88-89]

Subject: RE: Origins: Bagenal Harvey's Farewell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 May 22 - 01:04 AM

Notes from A Living Voice: The Frank Harte Song Collection [edited by Terry Moylan. Craft Recordings, Dublin, 2020 - pages 88-89]

Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey of Bargy Castle was a Protestant, a popular landlord and a barrister by profession, a member of the Protestant liberal party in Wexford and a senior member of the United Irishmen in Wexford.
Branches of the United Irishmen had spread rapidly throughout Ireland and the first branch in Wexford was formed in Gorey in 1792. Early on in the rebellion Bagenal Harvey was taken prisoner and lodged in Wexford jail where he remained until Wexford was taken after the Battle of Three Rocks. He was then released and appointed Commander in Chief of the insurgent forces. It must be said that his appointment did not meet with unanimous approval; Myles Byrne amongst others felt that although he was a gentleman of integrity, he did not have the military skills to carry out the duties of the position to which he was appointed. This would ultimately prove to be the case.
On the collapse of the rebellion, Harvey and John Colclough with their families sought refuge on the Great Saltee Island off the Wexford coast, hoping to make their way to France. They were betrayed by a man named Richard Waddy and taken to Wexford where they were both tried by court-martial and hanged on Wexford Bridge. Their heads were cut off and placed on spikes over the courthouse in Wexford.
The song was given to me by Paddy Berry, a fine singer, who has published two books of Wexford Songs. The song was written shortly after 1798 but was only heard as a recitation until an air was put to it by Tommy Mallon. Since then it has been widely sung.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bagenal Harvey's Farewell
From: Felipa
Date: 10 May 22 - 05:34 PM

recordings currently available on youtube (with various melodies):
sung by
Seán Garvey
Paddy Berry
Aileen Lambert
Frank Harte

Subject: RE: Origins: Bagenal Harvey's Farewell
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 15 May 22 - 05:48 PM

"Farewell to pleasant Dilston Hall" is the model?

Regards