Ellen O'Leary
Ellen O'Leary (1831-1889) was an Irish poet and a significant figure in the promotion of nationalist literature during the 19th century. Born in Tipperary, Ireland, she faced early adversity with the loss of her mother and was raised by her aunt. O'Leary began her literary career at the age of twenty, contributing to various publications and aligning herself with the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, a group advocating for political change in Ireland. She published poetry under the pseudonyms Eily and Lenel in nationalist outlets like The Nation, and her work gained recognition alongside contemporaries, including the renowned poet William Butler Yeats. O'Leary hosted gatherings that fostered literary discussions among poets and writers, further cementing her role in the Irish literary scene. Her poem "To God and Ireland True" and others appeared in notable anthologies, showcasing her commitment to Irish themes. Despite her death from cancer shortly after her birthday in 1889, her posthumous collection, *Lays of Country, Home, and Friends*, was published in 1890 and well-reviewed, affirming her influence on Irish literature and her legacy as a champion of Irish nationalism.
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Ellen O'Leary
Writer
- Born: 1831
- Birthplace: Tipperary, Ireland
- Died: October 23, 1889
Biography
Ellen O’Leary was born October 22, 1831, in Tipperary, Ireland. Her father, John O’Leary, was a prosperous land- owning merchant. Her mother, Margaret Ryan O’Leary, died when O’Leary was around the age of five. She was raised by her Aunt Mary.
O’Leary began her literary career at the age of twenty, publishing in the Commercial Journal and The Irishman. She and her older brother John became associated with the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, a militant group of political activists. She began publishing poetry in The Nation, an Irish nationalist newspaper, under the pseudonyms Eily and Lenel. Because of his political activities, her brother John was imprisoned for treason, then released into exile in 1871. Following his exile, he moved to Dublin; O’Leary sold her property in Tippery and lived with him in Dublin. In 1885, she met the poet William Butler Yeats when he came to visit her brother. The O’Learys hosted a weekly meeting of poets and writers. This group promoted Irish themes in the writing of its members.
Ellen O’Leary’s poetry was printed in several anthologies. Her poem, “To God and Ireland True” appeared in Irish Minstrelsy, published in 1837. She had several poems published alongside those of Yeats in the 1808 Poems and Ballads of Young Ireland. Yeats included her poem “A Legend of Tyrone” in his 1888 edition of Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry. She died from cancer October 23, 1889. Her only volume, Lays of Country, Home, and Friends, was published posthumously, in 1890. Yeats reviewed the book favorably.
Ellen O’Leary is recognized for her promotion of Irish Nationalist literature and her influence on the Irish poet William Butler Yeats.