Whyte's THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 18 APRIL 2026

THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR - TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 18 APRIL 2026 101 162 1917. SOLDIERS OF ERIN - The Rallying Song of the Irish Volunteers. First American edition. ‘Words by PETER KEARNEY Setting by VICTOR HERBERT.’ Published by The Irish Industries Depot Inc., 876 Lexington Ave., New York. ‘Copyright, 1917, by Robert F. O’Reilly’. With interesting annotated pencil changes to the lyrics, e.g. ‘we’ll man the bar na bweel’ to’we’ll pray the rosary’. 4 pages. Extremely rare - only a later edition recorded at auction. 12 by 8.50in. (30.5 by 21.6cm) Condition: Corners slightly bumped, very good. Peter Kearney - Peadar Ó Cearnaígh -, a cousin of Brendan Behan, was one of Ireland’s finest lyricists, the author of many songs that have passed into common usage. A member of the IRB since 1903, he wrote this song after returning from a route march in the Dublin hills. His friend Patrick Heeney produced a tune that seemed to fit, and the song gradually became popular at separatist gatherings. In 1912 the text was published in the IRB paper Irish Freedom. After the 1916 Rising, when Peadar served in the Jacob’s Factory garrison, the words and music were first published together in December 1916 by a sympathiser, Seamus Whelan. This American edition was organised by a priest, Father Robert O’Reilly, and the annotations could well be by him. Estimate €300-€500 (approx £260-£430) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 162