Thomas Furlong (1794 - 25 July 1827) was an Irish poet.[1]
Thomas Furlong (1794-1827). Silhouette by Augustin Amant Constant Fidèle Edouart (1789-1861). Courtesy National Library of Ireland.
Life[]
Youth and education[]
Furlong was born at Scarawalsh, between Ferns and Enniscorthy in co. Wexford.[1]
Travelling to Dublin with his father, he made the acquaintance of a Bolton St. grocer, Hart, who apprenticed him and supported his education up to age 15.[1]
Career[]
When Hart died in 1821, Furlong wrote an elegy for him, which was published in Gentleman's Magazine and caught the attention of a the owner of Jameson's distillery, who gave him a job.[2] Furlong worked in the counting-house of Jameson's distillery until his death.[1]
He was a founding member of The New Irish Magazine and Monthly National Advocate in 1822.[2] He also contributed to the New Monthly Magazine in London, as well as to other periodicals. Thomas Moore, Charles Maturin, and Lady Morgan praised his work.[1]
At the instance of James Hardiman, author of the History of Galway, Furlong undertook to produce metrical versions in English of the compositions of Carolan and other native Irish poets.[1] Furlong contributed 42 translations, most of Volume I.[2]
While engaged on this work, and on a poem entitled The Doom of Derenzie,[1] Furlong died in Dublin, of consumption.[2] He was buried in the churchyard of Drumcondra.[1]
Writing[]
Furlong's earliest work was a poem, The Misanthrope (London 1819), composed, he stated, with the object of reclaiming a friend who, owing to early disappointments, had retired from society. It was withdrawn by the author on account of numerous typographical errors. He issued a 2nd edition at Dublin in 1821, with other poems.[1]
A poem entitled The Plagues of Ireland: An epistle,' appeared at Dublin in 1824, with a view to promoting catholic emancipation. He described his work as "a little sketch and hasty picturing" of the more prominent evils and grievances which should be removed before that "harassed land" of Ireland could calculate on the enjoyment of tranquillity. To The Plagues of Ireland Furlong appended a few occasional poems.[1]
Of the Doom of Derenzie all but one sheet had been revised by the author. It appeared posthumously (London, 1829). The poem treated the superstitions of the peasantry of Wexford.[1]
Several of Furlong's metrical translations, and a portrait of him, appeared in Hardiman's work on Irish minstrelsy (London, 1831).[1]
Recognition[]
A "Memoir of Thomas Furlong" appeared in Hardiman’s Irish Minstrelsy with an engraved portrait.[1]
A composition of his was, in 1845. included in Duffy's Ballad Poetry of Ireland.[1]
Publications[]
Poetry[]
- The Misanthrope, with other poems. London: Henry Colburn, 1819;[2] Dublin: W. Underwood, 1821.
- The Plagues of Ireland: An epistle. Dublin: privately published, 1824.
- The Doom of Derenzie: A poem. London: Joseph Robins, 1829.
- Thomas Furlong: The forgotten Wexford poet (edited by Sean Mythen). Ferns, Co. Wexford, Ireland: Clone Publications, 1998.
Translated[]
- 42 translations in Irish Minstrelsy; or, Bardic remains of Ireland; with English poetical translations (edited by James Hardiman). (2 volumes), London: Joseph Robins, 1831. Volume I, Volume II
Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.[3]
See also[]
References[]
Gilbert, John Thomas (1889) "Furlong, Thomas" in Stephen, Leslie Dictionary of National Biography 20 London: Smith, Elder, p. 330 . Wikisource, Web, June 23, 2016.
Notes[]
External links[]
- Poems
- "The Fate of Ullin: An ode"
- Thomas Furlong at AllPoetry ("John O'Dwyer of the Glen")
- Thomas Furlong at Poetry Atlas ("Eileen a Roon")
- Books
- Thomas Furlong at Amazon.com
- About
- Furlong, Thomas in the Dictionary of Irish Biography
- Thomas Furlong at Ricorso.net
- Thomas Furlong (1794-1827) at English Poetry, 1579-1830
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Furlong, Thomas
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