RODDY McCORLEY (ballad history)

An eight-minute film exploring the life and times of Roddy McCorley, the County Antrim rebel who inspired Ethna Carbery to write what became a very famous ballad. Featuring fiddle music performed by Julia McDonald Plumb.

[robertpatterson]

My father played and sung this song on his guitar his whole life in NYC, sung it with pointed passion teaching the power of patriotism and how even in its set backs that this idea could never be stopped by the English. It is our God given right and that we were proud Irish.

I still whistle and sing Roddy.s song whenever I think of my Dad and when I need inspiration. roomy May have been hanged on Toome Bridge but his sole is alive in us each day pushing us forward,

[BillHorn-tvcc]

It's nice to know the history behind the song we've been singing for all these years.

[emmetfahy]

Go raibh maith agat. Im so happy to hear more about this ballad.

[joewelsh]

I play this tune at the end of every gig. Up Red Branch!!

[MZophiel]

Fantastic video. Brilliant history. Go riabh maith agat.

[tonycarton]

probably the first song i ever learned

[finnmccorley]

I’m related to him he is my great uncle

[ccrider]

My father hated fascists. From childhood, I can still hear him singing this song with his brothers, their voices carrying over the lake by Irish Cove and into the night sky.
RIP ALL

[bmca]

The picture of the church is the presbyterian church, he was supposed to have been buried in the nearby church of Ireland

[Pitous]

I'm French. Went there in 2008 when I visited Ireland with my wife. I knew the song from an album called "College Concert" of the Kingston Trio.

[brianmurphy]

The bridge shown in video is on the Moyola River about a mile from Toome...

[JR-xojp]

Roddy mccorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today ..immortal ❤️

[Bernaren]

I learned it in Irish. I thought it was the Bridge of Tuam in Galway

[michaeljames]

Very interesting. I have loved that song from infancy, but was disappointed in recent years to hear that Roddy McCorley had never been involved in ' '98 ' at all and had, in fact been hanged for sheep stealing. These press cuttings contradict that story. It states that he was convicted of multiple crimes at different times; I wonder if there is any record of these previous trials?