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IOSEPH MCGARRITY I
To attempt to outline the life of Ioseph McGarrity is indeed a for-
midable task, when Ireland's history is finally and successfully
written, Ioseph McGarrity's story will have been told, to the poet,
his outstanding quality would be his unique ability to produce
rhythm without regard for technique, to capture in words, the
sound of the sea, the smell of the turf fire, and the racy language
of the Irish people, to lovers of Irish ballads, he has given a wealth
of genuinely Irish folksong, his ballad of Roger Casement,
Lament for Rory O'Connor, and ballad on the death of Harry
Boland, could be sung on a windy street corner in any town in
Ireland, or beside the warm glow of a turf fire, or what perhaps
would be the best use of all, beside the bivouac fines of those
soldiers of Ireland who fought and died for her freedom, to the
philanthropist, Ioe had a special appeal, for although Ireland was
his chief beneficiaiy throughout his life, Vallanova College was
the recipient at his death of a library containing the most complete
collection of the literary, political and historical history of his
country andpeople , that exists outside of Ireland, but it is the
person imbued with a love of freedom that Ioe's strongest appeal
goes out, from the time he left Ireland as a youth, until the day he
died, he lived, worked, and dreamed of Irish freedom, he ex-
pended three personal fortunes on Ireland he maintained the Irish
Press as a rallying point for Americans sympathetic to Ireland's
cause, and the medium was greatly responsible for the Bond
Drive in America, and for its huge success, he was the recognized
leader of the physical force movement during his time, and essen-
tially was a man of peace, early in 1922 he made a heroic effort
to re-unite the forces of Ireland, divided over the acceptance of the
Treaty, alone he was able to persuade Michael Collins and Eamon
DeValera to compromise their differences next day in Dublin,
when the repudiation of one of the articles of the Mansion House
agreement by Collins forshadowed Civil War, McGarrity cabled
both sides a last desperate appeal, his poem "To Ireland" sums
up the intensity of his feelings.
TO IRELAND
List ye! list ye! Men of Eire ‘May the subtle Sa.von’s scheming
Now's the time to hold your head Die the death of all deceit
For the glory of the living May the foe that sped the arrow
And the honour of the dead. Find it hroken at his feet.
Let not passion’s poisoned arrow May the nation rise triumphant
Drive ye to embittered strife nder God's protectim: View
Stand as sisters, stand as brothers ‘s the wish an Irish exile
Rally for the nation's l' e. Sends across the sea to you.
It is not important when Ioe was born or where he died, the
spirit he typified is timeless, to this son of Tyrone, who did so
much for his country and his race, this Ball is reverently dedi-
cated, with the hope and the prayer that his reincarnation, even
in a form as feebly tangible as this dedication, may bring with it
a rebirth of the spirit that inspired him throughout his long and
useful life for Ireland.
"ELIMINATE'THE BORDER”