Neil McBride (poet)

Neil McBride (Niall Mac Gioll Bhridé) at his home in 1900.

Neil McBride (Irish: Niall Mac Gioll Bhridé; 1861-1942) was a poet, author, and songwriter from Feymore, Creeslough, Donegal, Ireland, who also gained notoriety for protesting a fine he received for having his name written in Irish on his business cart.^[1]

Farmer and poet

Neil McBride spent his entire life in the small village of Feymore, Creeslough, He lived on Crockatee (Cruckathee), a foothill of Muckish Mountain and earned his living as a cottier (farmer) and a poet. Neil published a book of poems in 1905 called 'Blta Fraoic' ('Heather Blossoms').^[2] Neil's poems and songs became well known throughout Ireland. Some titles include: "The Hills of Donegal",^[3] "Noreen Bawn" (1910),^[4] "The Castle of Doe",^[5] "Marble Hill" and "Mó Chró Beag ag Bun Cnoc a Tigh" ("My Little House at the Bottom of the Big Hill") ^[6]

Historic encounter with the law

On the evening of March 11, 1905, on his way home from the Dunfanaghy Fair, Neil was stopped by a 'bobby', who fined him one shilling for having 'illegible' (Irish) writing on the signage of his donkey cart. All business carts were required to display its owner's name (in English); Neil's defiantly read, "Niall Mac Gioll Bhridé". He refused to pay the fine and defended himself at the Dunfanaghy Petty Session. He lost, and was penalized an additional shilling after still refusing to pay.

Patrick Pearse and appeal

The Conradh na Gaeilge ("Gaelic League") learned of Neil's story and made efforts to help him. One of it members, attorney Patrick Pearse, seeing the opportunity to champion Irish independence, agreed to defend McBride, pro bono. McBride's appeal was brought before the Court of King's Bench in Dublin. It was Pearse's first and only court appearance as a barrister. The case was lost, but it inspired Pearse in his endeavors as a political activist and spawned a national campaign to change British government policies towards the Irish language.^[7] Pearse wrote about the court's decision in his June 27, 1905 column in the Gaelic League newspaper, An Claidheamh Soluis: "...it was in effect decided that Irish is a foreign language on the same level with Yiddish." Continuing in the article, Pearse urges the people of Ireland to promote the Irish Language as a form of Irish nationalism.^[8]

Legacy

Plaque located at Dunfanaghy Market Square in tribute to Neil McBride and Patrick Pearse, written in both Irish and English. (Photo by Pearse Doherty)

• The name plate from the cart, which was printed by another poet, Andrew Mac Intyre, is on permanent display at the Donegal County Museum in Letterkenny.^[1]
• A radio broadcast about Neil's life and works aired on Radio Éireann in 1936.^[9]
• Liam Ó Connacháin wrote a biography about Neil in 1939 titled, "Niall Mac Gioll Bhridé". It was reprinted in 1974.^[10]
• A plaque in Neil's honor was placed at the entrance to Doe (Chapel) Cemetery, and dedicated by Liam Connachain at its unveiling on October 3, 1982^[9]
• A folk song, inspired by Neil's cart story, called "An Trucailín Donn" ("The Little Brown Cart"), was released on September 29, 2012 by the band, Réalta on the album "Open the Door for Three".^[11][12]
• In January, 2016, "An Trucailín Donn", a documentary about Neil and his cart, aired on Irish television.^[7]
• On April 18, 2016, a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Pearse Doherty at Dunfanaghy Market Square in memory of the infamous court case.

External links

Book: 'lta Fraoic’ (‘Heather Blossoms’) Songs in Irish and English by Niall Mac Gioll Bhridé

Video: "An Trucailín Donn" documentary trailer

Video: "An Trucailín Donn" song performed by Réalta

Video: "Noreen Bawn" song performed by Bridie Gallagher

References