Irish Vernacular Poetry and the American Revolution: Irish Find Their Voice in Tomas O Miochain

Abstract

Historical studies of Ireland during the late-18th Century 'Age of Revolution' have traditionally focused on politics and ideology-the realm of society's elite-often ignoring the opinions and role of the largely Catholic, Irish-speaking population of the country. This has occurred due to both an inability to understand the rich vernacular sources, as well as the longstanding view of rural people as an undifferentiated mass, a view that went largely unchallenged-until recently. By examining the vernacular poetry of Tomas O Miochain, this paper reconsiders the role of the native Irish-speaking population in discourse of the American Revolution and, in turn, the Revolution's implications for Ireland. While only a single example of political voice in the Irish vernacular during this era, the works of O Miochain offer a window into a much more complex presentation of late-18th Century Ireland, demonstrating that people outside the English-speaking elite comprehended the political situation and brought to it their own experiences and understanding.