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The Minstrel Boy is a song written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) (shown above) who set it to the melody of The Moreen, an old Irish air. Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. It is widely believed that Moore composed the song in remembrance of a number of his friends, whom he met while studying at Trinity College in Dublin and who had participated in (and were killed during) the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. However, the song gained widespread popularity and became a favorite of many Irishmen who fought during the United States Civil War. Moore was far more than a balladeer, however. He had major success as a society figure in London and in 1803 was appointed registrar to the Admiralty in Bermuda. From there, he traveled in Canada and the USA. Moore is considered Ireland's National Bard and is to it what Robert Burns is to Scotland. Moore is commemorated by a plaque on the house where he was born and by a large bronze statue near Trinity College Dublin.
Lyrics by Thomas Moore
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