Turlough O'carolan

Carolan Was Born Near Nobber County Meath And Moved With His Family Probably When He Was A Teenager To Ballyfarnan County Roscommon Where His Father Took A Job With The MacDermott Roe Family. Mrs. MacDermott Roe Gave Him An Education And He Showed Talent In Poetry. After Being Blinded By Smallpox Perhaps At The Age Of Eighteen Carolan Was Taught The Harp For Three Years. Then Being Given A Horse And A Guide He Set Out To Travel Ireland And Compose Songs For Patrons. For Almost Fifty Years Carolan Journeyed From One End Of The Country To The Other Composing And Performing His Tunes. Carolan Is Buried In The Village Of Keadue County Roscommon Where The Annual O'Carolan Harp Festival And Summer School Commemorates His Life And Work. read less