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Feardorcha O'Farrelly

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Feardorcha O'Farrelly (fl. 1736) was an Irish poet.

The O'Farrelly family (Ó Fearghaile) were an erenagh clan of Breifne, and featured a number of distinguished medieval churchmen, including David Ó Faircheallaigh (bishop of Kilmore from c. 1408.

O'Farrelly appears to have been born in the late 17th century. His father was John O'Farrelly of Mullagh, Cavan, a farmer, historian and poet. Nothing appears to be known of his mother.

He studied for the priesthood, but was prevented from been ordained by some obscure circumstance. He became a farmer in Mullagh, enjoying local fame as a poet, and gaining the acquaintance of Turlough Carolan and Charles McCabe. His patrons were the Mortimer family of Cloghwallybeg. Only five poems can now be attributed to him, surviving in manuscript form.

References

Feardorcha O'Farrelly Wikipedia