Thomas Moore’s Melodies in Kilmainham Gaol and the Pearse Museum

This video explores how Kilmainham Gaol and the Pearse Museum are connected with three of Thomas Moore’s famous Irish melodies. His song, ‘The Origin of the Harp’ was inspired by a visit Moor paid to Kilmainham Gaol to visit his friend, the United Irishman Edward Hudson, in 1798. Another of his melodies, ‘Oh breathe not his name’ was inspired by another Kilmainham Gaol prisoner, Robert Emmet. He also immortalised the story of Emmet’s doomed love affair with Sarah Curran in ‘She is far from the land’. This story was to later play a key role in Patrick Pearse’s decision to move his school to what is now the Pearse Museum in 1910.

This video features performances of all three songs by sisters Teresa and Mary Louise O’Donnell in the atmospheric surroundings of Kilmainham Gaol and the Pearse Museum. It will be made available via the Facebook pages of the Pearse Museum and Kilmainham Gaol, and on the OPW YouTube channel, on Thursday, 20 August at 6pm.