The Last of the Irish Bards

Turlough O’Carolan, who went by Carolan, was a harpist and composer in Ireland. He was born around 1670 in County Meath and moved to Ballyfornan with his family when his father was hired by the MacDermott family. Mrs. MacDermott provided for Carolan’s education, including lessons in music and poetry. Despite a bout of smallpox that left him blind around age 18, Carolan became an itinerant musician. Soon, he began composing, creating a musical legacy. You can hear some of his melodies here.