Eoghain Ó Ruairc - Owen O'Rourke

O Rourke Crest
The O'Rourke Family Crest

Owen O'Rourke was the hea, in Carolan'ss time, of the once great family of O'Rourke, Princes of Breffini. It was Devorgilla, wief of the Prince of Breffni, that deserted her husband for Dermot MacMkurrough, who appealed for aid to Henry II and thus first brought the English into Ireland. According to Mulloy MacDermott, Ówen O'Rourke lived in Tarmon in the parish of Innismagrath, and was the last of the jhereditary Princes of Breffni who lived in any oppulance. The present tune seems to have the character of a lament.

Song Notations

Notations are courtesy of Carolan, the Life and Times of an Irish Harper by Dónal O'Sullivan vol 1 Celtic Music Edition 1983.

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com, 2024.
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