The Story of The Rose of Tralee
Mary O' Connor, born about 1820, was the original "Rose
of Tralee". Her parents' house was in Brogue Lane
in the Rock. Her father was a brogue (shoe) maker. Her
mother worked as a dairymaid at Cloghers House owned
by the Mulchinocks, a wealthy merchant family. One of
their sons was William Pembroke, a dreamer and poet.
Mary was a dark haired beauty with very alluring eyes,
but beautiful or not, she would only obtain a position
as a maid or helper. At seventeen, she was employed
as a kitchen maid to the Mulchinocks. Later, Maria Mulchinock
chose her as maid to two small children.
William occupied himself with pastimes that wealthy
young gentlemen pursued, one being a trip to the horse
fair at Ballinasloe. At a ball there, he met Alice Keogh.
In spite of his protestations of love, he soon returned
home. When he arrived home, his sister Maria took him
to see her children in the nursery where he got his
first glimpse of Mary O' Connor and was completely smitten
by her. He used every opportunity to meet her and eventually,
they became a couple. He spent many evenings in her
parents' house where he was well liked. But his family
disapproved, after all she was a Catholic peasant and
he a wealthy Protestant.
One night by the pure crystal fountain, he took her
in his arms and asked her to marry him. She declined
because she was afraid that such a marriage would end
in disaster even though she loved him. One evening,
he took her to the same place and sang to her the first
two verses of "The Rose of Tralee".
The following evening, Daniel O' Connell held a meeting
in Denny Street and William was the leader of one of
the repealer groups. A fracas broke out between involving
a man called Leggett, who was badly hurt. One of the
policemen informed Mulchinock that he would be held
responsible if Leggett died.
After the meeting, he went home where he met Mary
and produced a ring, which she accepted. They were now
betrothed. Suddenly his best friend, Bob Blenerhasset
rushed in and told him Leggett was dead and the police
would arrest him. Bob gave William a hundred gold sovereigns
and his horse and told him ride to Barrow Harbour and
take a ship anchored there.
William ended up in India in 1843 as a war correspondent.
He became friendly with the British Commander in Chief
known as "Old Gough". When Mulchinock told
him the story of what happened, the general saw the
injustice of it all and used his influence to enable
William to return to Tralee.
In 1849, he checked into the King's Arms in the Rock.
The proprietor, George Cameron served him a Cognac and
then drew the curtains as a funeral was passing by.
When Mulchinock inquired who was dead, the landlord
said it was Mary O' Connor, The Rose of Tralee. She
was approximately 29 years of age.
The only thing left to him now was to visit the grave
constantly at Clogherbrien. In time he became reacquainted
with Alice Keogh and married her and they eventually
went to America in 1849 where they had two girls, Alice
and Bernadette. But eventually, they separated and he
returned to Ireland in 1855 where he found solace in
drink. He never forgot his one true love and he wrote
the final verse for her.
William Mulchinock lived in a lodging house in Ashe Street run
by a woman named Old Biddy. He died on 13th October 1864 and was
buried in Clogherbrien beside his "Rose of Tralee".
There is even a "Rose of Tralee"
song
The Rose of Tralee in Ireland is at http://www.roseoftralee.ie
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