John Keegan (writer)

John Keegan (1809 or 1816–1849)[1] was an Irish ballad-writer.

Life

He was born in a small farmhouse on the banks of the Nore, Queen's County, and was educated by wandering hedge-schoolmasters. When very young he began to write verses, but lived a peasant's life. He suffered much in the Great Famine during 1845–6, and died in poor circumstances in 1849.[2]

Works

Many of Keegan's ballads appeared in Dolman's Magazine; some are contained in Edward Hayes's Ballads of Ireland, and in the compilation The Harp of Erin. At the time of his death Keegan was preparing a collected edition of his poems, which never, however, appeared.[2]

Keegan wrote a version of The Red Beggar (An Brocach Rua) of Abbeyleix, a story from the local folklore of Abbeyleix, a small town in rural County Laois. It tells of a destitute traveller who came into the area; he gained his name the Red Badger (Bocough Ruadh), from a large red woollen nightcap which he wore day and night.

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gollark: Possibly. Paying people if they want to move out seems more reasonable than doing stupid things to local property markets, or whatever, or adjusting taxes so those already there can afford it.
gollark: That doesn't mean the cost can't/shouldn't be *reduced*.
gollark: Instead of incentivizing people to stay there and driving up the price.
gollark: Yes.

References
  1. Library of Congress authority file notes that 1816 is a more accurate estimate of his birth year than the older estimate of 1809
  2. Lee, Sidney, ed. (1892). "Keegan, John" . Dictionary of National Biography. 30. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1892). "Keegan, John". Dictionary of National Biography. 30. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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