HISTORY & LITERATUE 13 MARCH 2016

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288
1916 The Soldier’s Song by Peadar Kearney. First
Edition with music by Pádraig O hAonaigh,
arranged by Cathal Mac Dubhgall
Published by Whelan and Son, Dublin, 1916.
Composed as a marching song for the Irish Volun-
teers, The Soldier’s Song” was adopted as the Irish
National Anthem in 1926.”
Peadar Kearney worked first as a labourer in
Dublin, where he was born and educated. In 1911
he got a job at The Abbey Theatre as a props man
where he met Patrick Heeney who helped him
score The Soldier’s Song which he had composed
in 1909-1910. He joined the Irish Republican
Brotherhood in early 1903, and became a member
of its Supreme Council. He was a founder member
of the Irish Volunteers. The Soldier’s Song quickly
became the Volunteers’ most popular marching
song and was widely published. It was sung in the
GPO during the Rising. In the 1916 Rising Peadar
Kearney fought under Thomas MacDonagh at
Jacob’s biscuit factory in Bishop Street. He evad-
ed capture after the Rising was put down but was
arrested during the War of Independence and
interned at Ballykinlar Camp in County Down in
1920-21.
12¼ x 9¼in. (31.12 x 23½cm)
Estimate €1000-€1500 £780-£1170
289
“Ireland Over All”, sheet music
Published by S. S. Breathnach (J. J. Walsh). The
cover centred with a photograph of The O’Rahilly.
Quarto.
Estimate €150-€200 £117-£156
290
“Ireland Over All” and “Hymn on the Battle-
field” sheet music
“Ireland Over All” published by Whelan & Son,
Ormond Quay, Dublin. Words by Eamonn
Ceannt. The cover centred with a photograph of
Eamonn Ceannt leading a party of Irish Volun-
teers and saluting the Tricolour. “Hymn on the
Battlefield”, dedicated to the Irish Citizen Army.
Words by Constance de Markievicz. Together with
two 1940s lithographic reproductions of the 1916
Proclamation. (4)
13 x 10in. (33.02 x 25.40cm)
Estimate €100-€150 £78-£117
291
“The Felons of Our Land” sheet music.
Published by S. S. Breathnach (J. J. Walsh). Quarto.
Estimate €150-€200 £117-£156