Patrick Heeney (19 October 1881 – 13 June 1911), sometimes spelt Heaney, was an Irish composer whose most famous work is the music to the Irish national anthem "

Amhrán na bhFiann "" (), called "The Soldier's Song" in English, is Ireland's national anthem. The music was composed by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney, the original English lyrics by Kearney, and the Irish-language translation, now usually the version heard ...

" ().

Background

Heeney was born at 101 Lower Mecklenburgh Street (now Railway Street) in Dublin.http://www.dublincity.ie/Press/PressReleases/pressreleasenovember2010/Pages/Heeney%E2%80%99sNameLivesOnWithHisMusic.aspx He was the son of a local grocer and attended St. Patrick’s National School at 13 Mecklenburgh Street. He was a member of the Col. John O’Mahoney Hurling Club. A 1975 memoir of

Peadar Kearney Peadar Kearney ( ga, Peadar Ó Cearnaígh ; 12 December 1883 – 24 November 1942) was an Irish republican and composer of numerous rebel songs. In 1907 he wrote the lyrics to "A Soldier's Song" ( ga, " Amhrán na bhFiann", italics=no), now t ...

states Heeney initially worked for the postal service before taking employment as a bagman at Hickey's Drapers in North Earl Street. One individual of the correct age named "Patrick Heaney" is listed living in Dublin in the 1901 census as one of four unmarried siblings at 242 Township Cottages (now Gulistan Cottages), Rathmines. This seems very likely to be the composer since this man's job is listed as a "town postman". He is listed at the 31 Gulistan Cottages in the 1911 census (conducted in April, two months before the composer's death) along with a wife, Catherine, and a nine-month-old son, William.

"The Soldier's Song"

Heeney was unable to write music, but had a knowledge of tonic sol-fa and usually composed by trying out melodies on his

melodeon Melodeon may refer to: * Melodeon (accordion), a type of button accordion *Melodeon (organ), a type of 19th-century reed organ *Melodeon (Boston, Massachusetts), a concert hall in 19th-century Boston * Melodeon Records, a U.S. record label in the ...

. "The Soldier's Song" is generally believed to have been composed in 1907, though, in later years, the lyricist

put the date at 1909 or 1910. The English lyrics were the work of Kearney who was a prominent member of the

Irish Republican Brotherhood The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB; ) was a secret oath-bound fraternal organisation dedicated to the establishment of an "independent democratic republic" in Ireland between 1858 and 1924.McGee, p. 15. Its counterpart in the United States ...

and had been Heeney's musical collaborator since 1903. The unusual metre of Kearney's lyrics to "The Soldier's Song" initially gave Heeney considerable trouble in his attempt to fit music to them. Other collaborations between Heeney and Kearney include "Michael Dwyer".

Death and commemoration

Heeney died in poverty aged 29 in Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Drumcondra Cemetery, where a plaque on the wall now commemorates him. Peadar Kearney was in London with the Abbey Company at the time of Heeney's death. He took up a collection for his deceased friend’s mother. Among the contributors were

Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to: * Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician * Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and Ge ...

and

Sam Maguire Samuel Maguire (11 March 1877 – 6 February 1927) was an Irish republican and Gaelic football player. He is chiefly remembered as the eponym of the Sam Maguire Cup, given to the All-Ireland Senior Champions of Gaelic football each year. Ear ...

. Peadar Kearney dedicated his song ''Slán Libh'' to Paddy Heeney. In 2010,

Dublin City Council Dublin City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath) is the authority responsible for local government in the city of Dublin in Ireland. As a city council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. Until 2001, the council wa ...

named Patrick Heeney House and Crescent, a new 63 housing unit development in

Summerhill Summerhill or Summer Hill may refer to the following places: Australia * Summer Hill, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney *Summerhill, Tasmania, a suburb of Launceston * Summerhill (Mount Duneed), a prefabricated iron cottage in Victoria Canada * ...

, in the composer's honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heeney, Patrick 1881 births 1911 deaths Irish songwriters National anthem writers Musicians from Dublin (city) Burials at Drumcondra Church Graveyard