The Catalpa Rescue 1875!

The Catalpa Rescue: The Greatest Prison Escape in Irish History!

 

One of the most daring rescues ever, this documentary/film was directed and edited by Marcus Howard from the Easter Rising stories. It's better to watch this on the YouTube channel because of the difficulties in loading and also for the comments. It is incredibly detailed and is one to sit in for or watch in instalments, or the aftermath and what happened to the individuals concerned, which is included in the summary. The story of John Boyle O' Reilly who was born in Dowth, County Meath in June 1844 and who died very young in 1890 is told, with regard to the above rescue, but he was one of the most outstanding men ever to come out of this county. His ascendancy to the pinnacle of American society was extraordinary and he was described as one of America's foremost poets. On his death, memorials were held around the world. Will add one of his poems to the above when I get back to this. With thanks to Easter Rising Stories who posted and to Frances Rocks who is listed in the credits.

The Cry of The Dreamer

I am tired of planning and toiling

In the crowed hives of men;

Heart weary of building and spoiling,

And spoiling and building again,

And I long for the dear old river,

Where I dreamed my youth away;

For a dreamer lives forever,

And a toiler dies in a day.

I am sick of the showy seeming

Of a life that is half a lie;

Of the faces lined with scheming

In the throng that hurries by.

From the sleepless thoughts' endeavour,

I would go where the children play;

For a dreamer lives forever,

And a toiler dies in a day.

I can feel no pride, but pity

for the burdens the rich endure;

There is nothing sweet in the city

But the patient lives of the poor.

Oh, the little hands too skilful,

And the child-mind choked with weeds!

The daughter's heart grown wilful,

And the father's heart that bleeds!

No, no! From the street's rude bustle,

From trophies of mart and stage,

I would fly to the woods' low rustle

And the meadows kindly page.

Let me dream as of old by the river,

And be loved for the dream away;

For a dreamer lives forever,

And a toiler dies in a day.

John Boyle O' Reilly

(1844 - 1890)