Coolkenno History

On November 9th 1998, I witnessed a fine bicentennial commemoration recognising a son of Clonmore, a poet and a writer. We learned some of his famous songs as children, especially as this part of Ireland commemorated the ideals of United Irish Republicanism and the sacrifice in trying to achieve it way back in the hot summer of 1998. This poet was PJ McCall. PJ may have been born in Dublin in March 1861 to John McCall (1822-1902) of Killalongford; a townland that bounds with Clonmore, Ballyshane, Gowle and Seskin, on the Carlow-Wicklow border, but he is still recognised with pride by the people of Clonmore as one of their own. His father John was a renowned local publican, historian, folklorist and antiquarian of the Clonmore area and claimed to be descended from the Mac Cathmaoil clan, who moved to the Clonmore area from Co. Tyrone, in the early 17th Century. It was through he, that young PJ would gain a love for history and helped grip the rich heritage that steeps from this part of South Leinster. PJ spent much of his youth, visiting Rathdangan in Wexford, the home of his mother. It was here, he was told with much enthusiasm, the tales and events of the 1798 Rebellion and of the rebel generals, John Kelly of Killanne and Fr. John Murphy of Boolavogue. As a young adult, PJ collected many ancient musical airs and created tunes based off historical tales. These include the famous Follow Me Up To Carlow, Kelly, the Boy from Killanne and his most haunting, yet powerful Wexfordian anthem, Boolavogue. McCall presented to the nation these anthems and allowed people to imagine the heroic actions of such individuals as John Kelly, Fr. Murphy or Chief Fiach McHugh O'Byrne. McCall, a patriot by pen, was also the first Secretary of the Irish Literary Society and became a City Councillor in 1902, defeating James Connolly, later the 1916 leader. One of his political aims was to quash the poverty and ghettoisation which had engulfed Dublin at that stage. He has been described in recent publications as a shy man, proud of the Irish language and a motivator of Gaelic literary and musical resurgence. Having run a successful grocery and spirit business in Dublin's Liberties, he retired to Sutton in Dublin and died in 1919.