#Once more unto the fray full#

Our Motherland has had daughters as noble, as brave, as faithful and loving as Anna Johnston, but never was gathered to the Mother's breast one MORE noble-souled, upright, courageous of heart, or one MORE passionately faithful, than she. Her great warm heart kept the door of its fondest affection wide open to all who loved Ireland, and lived for Ireland, and strove for Ireland–and in her heart of hearts was sacredly cherished the Memory of the holy Dead who died for Ireland. Before the tabernacle of poor Ireland's hopes she burned in her bosom a perpetual flame of faith. Joyously, with me, she came at length to the welcoming arms which our mountains reached out to her–unthinking that she came but to quaff her final cup of bliss, and bequeath her bones to the Hills of her Heart for ever.įrom childhood till the closing hour, every fibre of her frame vibrated with love of Ireland. She dreamt and sang of it for long years before she was fated to see it. Within Ireland this grand old chieftainry of Tir-Chonaill had always, strangely, drawn her affection. For, a kind God had compressed into her short years more exuberant happiness than is usually bestowed in a long life.

She that sang these songs, and died–with a song on her lips, and youth's bloom still on her cheeks–sang, as does the lark, because her heart, always filled with happiness and love, delighted to spill in melody upon the earth its overflowing joys. A light has been quenched in Eirinn: another hope has gone under the green sod.

The voice of the singer is silenced, the heart is stilled, the hand grown cold, and the loveful eyes are closed for evermore. In the flower of her youth and the blossomingĬlosed her eyes on Ireland of her heart's love, 'They are the best expressions of Ulster poetic sentiment that have appeared since Ethna Carbery's gem-like verses first delighted the public.'– The Irish News.įrom M. It gave me sincere and deep pleasure to read this delightful book.'– Fiona MacLeod. 'An admirable piece of work, true to life, true in sentiment, true in touch, with vivid actuality, and the breath of romance, and a very real and appealing winsome charm. 'A LAD OF THE O'FRIELS.' An idyll of Donegal life.

#Once more unto the fray full#

'They are full of the beautiful pathos of Irish poetry, the magic of Irish music, and the elusive charm of Irish folk-lore, and convey that atmosphere of sincerity which only flows from a pen dipped in the author's own heart.'– New York Times. 'These stories are instinct with all that is of poetry in the life of the Gael.'– Cork Constitution.