Other instruments

Irish language

Lineage (who taught them the harp)

Virginia

Lough Sheelin

Benburb

2nd Belfast Irish Harp Society school (the Bengal Subscription)

Drogheda

Kate Martin

View the latest version online at

bit.ly/19harp

Thomas Shea

yes (source for technical vocabulary)

Thady Smith a native of the County of Roscommon (Fanning’s father was Loughlin Fanning who was teacher of Hempson)

Charles Fanning (c.1736 - after 1792

KEY:

Possibly a student

yes presumably if singing in Irish and source for technical vocabulary

Hugh Higgins

Student

yes (source for technical vocabulary)

Daniel Black

Possibly a Teacher

Rose Mooney

Teacher

James Duncan (1747 – c.1800)

School

Son of Patrick MacAlindon (Pádraig Mac Giolla Fhiondáin)

Patrick Linden

https://simonchadwick.net/2023/12/richard-mccloskey.html

learned the song “Exile of Erin”

Richard McCloskey, mentioned in O’Hart, Irish Pedigrees vol 2 p3 https://archive.org/details/irishpedigreesor021892byuohar/page/2/mode/2up?view=theater

Live transcription

Hennesy (Dundalk) over 70 in 1804

Possible live transcription

Denis (Dennis) Hampson (O'Hampsey, Hempson)

Bridget O’Cahan, John C. Garragher, Loughlin Fanning, Patrick Connor

Denis Hempson (died 1807, conflicting birth years)

Claimed (lost) live transcription

Charles Byrne

fiddle from Simon Donnelly, Armagh, c.1750s

Patrick Quin

Dominic O’Donnell

Arthur O’Neill (1734 – 1816)

William Carr (1777 - post 1810)

O’Connor from Co Tyrone, son a piper in Malahide / Howth born c. 1807?) (Hudson ms, NLI 7260)

Yes apparently (if she is the person Patrick Byrne is referring to who had the technical vocabulary and was educated through Irish)

Bridget O’Reilly – is she the old woman not far from Virginia, over 70 in 1848? Is she the “female in Dublin” mentioned in 1809? Already a good harper by 1809, before she entered the Society. “Biddy Reilly" in Arthur O’Neil’s Memoirs?

Patrick Carolan professor of the Irish Harp 10 Pottingers Entry (Smyths Belfast Directory 1820) Carolan (Freeman’s Journal December 17, 1832) (mentioned in John Bell’s notebook 1849) (Caroline concert Belfast Commercial Chronicle 2 Mar 1816

William Gorman, entered June 08, aged 15 2 jan 1810, dismissed as incapable June 10.

Patrick McGrath (Dundalk) entered Sep 1808, age 14 on 2 Jan 1810

fiddle for 4 years with Bernard M’Ananley, Omagh, c,1800-5

Edward McBride (Omagh) entered Nov 1808, age 19 on 2 Jan 1810 (The Herald, 29 Aug 1903, born 1793, lived Crevenagh near Omagh, died Dublin c.1824)

James MacMonagal (McMolaghan)

James McMolaghan (Lifford) age 13 on 2 Jan 1810, on tour and converted in 1812 (The Protestant Advocate, 1814). Played for George IV? (in Bell’s notebook) 1821 George Iv programme “James McMonagal” Also “Edward McBride who taught Mannigal (in Tree of Strings - is this a misreading?). Death cert for JAMES MCMONAGLE Letterkenny 1868 aged 72 IS NOT HIM (Farmer)

singing (Tom Moore songs)

fiddle, early 1800s, “good player of Irish tunes by the time he was 11”

Valentine Rennie (Glens) entered Feb 1809, age 14 on 2 Jan 1810

Patrick O’Neill (near Dungannon) entered Jan 1809, age 13 on 2 Jan 1810. Recommended by Arthur O’Neill but too young to be the harper’s son who came out of the house and spoke in 1798

James O Neill, entered Feb 09, aged 17 on 2 Jan 1810, dismissed June 10. Joined 86th Regiment (with harp) on 1 Oct 1812 age 19 (or 17). Died in Masulipatam, India, 3 Dec 1814

Abraham Wilkinson (Ballymoney) entered Sep 1809, age 13 on 2 Jan 1810. Is he the Mr Wilkinson in Caernarvon Wales in 1840? ( Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald - Saturday 26 September 1840)

Edward O’Neill (day scholar of or near Belfast in 1811 minute book)

John Wallace (Day scholar in 1811 minute book)

John Mac Loughlin played for George IV in 1821 and for O’Connell in 1833 (and 1829?). Petrie purchased his harp from him. (O’Currie iii p298). Died 10 Jan 1834, had performed in the Ship Tavern ( Dublin Observer - Saturday 18 January 1834) Presented with harp in 1827 by officers of 3rd regiment = Third Regiment of Foot Guards = Scots Guards I think

Hugh Dornan (day scholar in 1811 minute book, age 29 in 1820). From Coleraine, played in Dr Corry’s Panorama and on Queen’s Island after it was renamed(Laverty in Belfast Morning News 15 Nov 1902 p6)

Singing in Irish and English

fiddle from Patrick Duffy, Magheracloone, as a child. Worled as a fiddler 1815 – 1819.

Only Irish, no English until age 17

Patrick Byrne. Is he GJ’s “Burns – Belonged to Drogheda he never played in Belfast”?

John McCotter (age 26 in 1820, not present 1821)

Maybe, asks for the words of Lord Moira from Byrne

Thomas Hanna, from Antrim age 18 in McBride’s report 20 Aug 1821 (IHS PDF) Entered Society 21 Feb 1820. (from Castledawson in Herald 29 Aug 1903) Wrote letter to Patrick Byrne 5 May 61 (AHUp357) Died 3 Nov 1869 age 67, harper to Earl and Countess of Granard (Carlow Post 13 Nov 69)

Patrick McCloskey. Entered society 8 Apr 1820, age 12 in Aug 1821 (IHS PDF) from Banbridge, discharged with Belfast made harp 1824, buried Kilrush Graveyard, near Lisburn (died 1826 age 19)

Hugh Fraser or Frazer, entered school as day pupil 7 May 1820, age 13 in McBride’s Aug 1821 report (IHS PDF) (from Armagh In Herald 29 Aug 1903). Died “last year” (Drogheda Argus 6 oct 66)

Hamilton Graham Day pupil, entered school 21 Feb 1820, Hamilton Gillespie age 17 in 1820, age 18 in McBride’s report Aug 1821

Jane McArthur (blind Ballycastle entered school 10 May 1821, age 17 in McBride’s report Aug 1821, discharged with Belfast made harp 1824 (IHS PDF)

Alexander (James) Jackson (Jack)

Violin and pedal harp in concert in 1841 and 1842. Also said to be a piano tuner

Alex Jack from Lambeg (age 12 in 1824, enrolled in 1822). Possibly the same person as James / Alexander Jackson. Lived in Lisburn till age 16. One of Rainie’s last pupils. Master of Society school 1838-40, played in Glasgow St Patrick’s Day 1842. GJ says “Alexander Jackson a good Harper taught in Belfast – Was born in Ballinderry lost his sight when a child playing Smoking cane Sticks”. Died 12 July 1857 (Banner of Ulster 18 Jul 57) age 46 (Belfast News-Letter, Mon 13 July 1857 p3)

Martin Crenny from near Larchfield, enrolled in 1822, age 14 in 1826 (IHS Calcutta). Craney in Newry in 1830 (Newry Telegraph 19 Nov 1830). Died Oct 1837 (Limerick Chronicle 21 Oct 1837)

Matthew Wall from Laois, enrolled in 1824 age 14, went to America

Arthur Morgan enrolled in 1824, age 11½ in 1826 (IHS Calcutta)

John McMullan (age 10 in 1826, enrolled in 1824). Concert in Tholsel Kilkenny 1842

Michael McCloskey. Admitted 1826, friends to pay. Concert with Fraser 1830

Thomas Brown age 11 when started at Belfast schol under Rainie in1826. Jackson says Born in Belfast and died in it. A good Harper. Died from a wetting coming from England to Belfast.

Thomas Williamson aged 12 in 1826, admitted as day scholar then and to be upgraded when there was a vacancy

Perhaps singing in Irish?

O’Connor “from the Royal Harp Institution, Belfast” concerts 1836-1854

Joseph Craven died 14 Sep 1869 Age 53. McManus Funeral in 61. Played for O’Connell. At the Ship from 1852

P Fitzpatrick from the Belfast school plays at the Ship Tavern Dublin 1847 (Dublin Weekly Nation 11 Sep 1847) Waterford 1862 also called “Mr Patrick”.

James McCurley, assaulted in Cootehill 1853. Concerts in 1840-42 in Drogheda, Kilkenny, Newry. Big tune lists.

Renny performing with O'Connor 1845-7. Rennie “of Belfast”.

Bell Died about Derry (GJ). Concert announcements 51 to 60. Death notice for Andrew Bell, Castledawson, 3 Nov 1861 aged 46

??? Not sure if he belongs here?

Brian Bowman, Irish harper, touring the south of Ireland, working at the Ship in Dublin in 1856

W. J. Winnington, d. 21 Sept 1833 while still a student (Belfast News Letter 24 sept 1833, see McClelland p24)

Yes (if we think he is Mr. E. Murphy in Cork in 1845)

William Murphy (not blind, at the Belfast school in 1839 – see letter printed in Bunting 1840). Is he the same as E Murphy named as repeal harper in Cork Jun 45

Patrick Murney

Samuel Patrick b 1819, school 1834 to end (1838 when it left Cromac Street I think) Burned Rainie’s harp (Bell / Farmer)

Hugh O’Hagan (c. 1822 – 15 May 1886) Student at Drogheda, 1843

Paul Smith (death certificate: Musician, Dublin, 29 City Quay, 14 Aug 1904). Presumably the Mr Smith who Played at Adolf Sjoden’s festival in 1879. Hewson Harp NMI DF:1906.64 dated 1840

Brady played in costume in Temperance procession, (FJ 18 March 1841)

(Thomas?) Walker (never heard fingering proper) 48 Nelson Street in 1852 directory

William Griffith (student at Drogheda) Billy Griffin, took part in O’Connell’s Centenary in 1875 (Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society vol 2 no 2 sep 1909 p.207)

Thomas Branagan student at Drogheda, 1843. Played professionally. Died at Drogheda Workhouse, 11th July 1885, aged 60

Miss Flinn (student at Drogheda, 1843. MLOD p79)

Mr Halpin (student at Drogheda, 1843. MLOD p79)

https://simonchadwick.net/2026/01/eugene-mcentegart.html

piano and guitar

Mr McEntegart plays harp in Drogheda 1843-5 but may have given up. Apparently same man as Eugene McE playing piano and guitar.

Peter Dowdall (student at Drogheda, 1843. Peter Dowdall, the clerk of the Drogheda Union. d.28 Apr 1902 aged 73

Blakeley (GJ)

Sally Moore (GJ) “A Blind woman in Academy Street” (Belfast News Letter 15 June 1871). Is she Sarah Moore spinster musician d. 18 Nov 72 in Belfast workhouse age 40?