THE POET JAMES BARTON O'CONNOR

The poet James B. O'Connor was a member of a family of twelve children, six girls and six boys born to Thomas and Margaret O'Connor. His father having been dispossessed of his farm in Dromcunnig Abbeydorney, by the landlord Crosbie, moved to the lands at Lissereen, where the large family were reared.

In the 1860's James emigrated to Australia with two other brothers, Patrick B. and Batt. In 1904 while returning to Ireland on board ship, a fever broke out and he died at the home of his sister Mrs Bridget Prendergast, Farranfore.

He is interred in the family tomb in Ardfert Cathedral. The other members of the family settled as follows: John in Lissereen; Tom in Ardrahan; Denis in Ballyroe; Johanna became Mrs McCarthy, Goratoo, Kilflynn; Margaret became Mrs Stack, Banna; Mary became Mrs Lawlor, Doon, Tralee; Kate became Mrs Horgan, Moybella, Lisselton. Julia never married and remained in Lissereen.

The following poem is one of the many that he wrote while in Australia.


Sweet Lissereen

Through the scenes of my childhood no more I may see.

Nor visit again the sweet Vale of Tralee,

Where in youth I have strayed with friends who were true,

To their own Island mother sweet Erin to you.

                          ....

Though now far away in a far distant land,

Far away from those green fields and mountains so grand.

How oft doth my heart in its loneliness stray,

To those fond friends and fair scenes so far far away.

                             ....

Now fancy brings back those loved scenes this day

Those mountains so grand and those friends ever fair

And the sweet rippling stream that winded its way

By the home of my childhood now far far away.

                          ....

Now I long to behold you sweet Erin again,

And ramble the wild plains both mountain and glen

To the green hills of Kerry my thoughts often stray

And the home of my childhood so far far away.

            ....

How oft in my dreams to Killarney I go

And visit sweet Muckross and famed Aghadoe

And list to the thrushes and linnets sweet lay

In green Innishfallen, so far far away.

                       ....

And sound the loud horn in the Gap of Dunloe

And chase through the clear lake the wild stag and doe.

And glide o'er the waters of Tralee's lovely bay

Near the loved home of childhood so far far away.

                        ....

To Banna's wild strand my vision takes flight

And view in the distance St. Brendan's steep height

And behold his Cathedral in ruin and decay

The last home of my father so far far away.

                        ....

Ardfert's sacred mount to this fond heart so dear

For there oft in my youth I have shed a sad tear

O'er the tomb that envelopes my forefather's clay

In the time honoured ruin so far far away.

                        ....

Sweet home of the virtue the true and the brave

I murmur as slowly I move to the grave

Where St. Brendan reposes I kneel down and pray

For the freedom of Erin so far far away.

                        ....

To the plains of O'Dorney I turn with a sigh

And lament o'er the days that are now long gone by

The pure days of childhood so mirthful and gay

In sweet Lissereen now far far away.

                       ....

I awake from my sleep and vision is o'er

Alas I'm exile in Australia's wild shore

The pangs of this fond heart no words can portray

As tears flow for Erin now far far away.

                       ....

When at eve sad and lonely in this foreign strand

Fond memories return to Erins fair land

And recalls the bright joys of youth's happy days

In the loved home of my childhood so far far away.

                       ....

Adieu dearest Erin a loving adieu

To the mountains and valleys and friends fond and true

May God who has made thee so verdant and gay

Drive misrule and oppression from thee far away.


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