Fanny Parnell
Encyclopedia
Fanny Parnell born Frances Isabelle Parnell (September 4, 1848 – July 20, 1882) was an Irish poet, Irish Nationalist, and the sister of Charles Stewart Parnell
, an important figure in nineteenth century Ireland
. Although Fanny's life was short, she was a strong willed and accomplished woman.
, Ireland into a wealthy Protestant background. She was the eighth child out of eleven and fourth daughter born to John Henry Parnell, a landowner and the grandson of the last Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer, and Delia Tudor Stewart Parnell, an Irish-American and the daughter of Admiral Charles Stewart
(1778–1869) of the US Navy. Fanny was an intelligent girl and before she was through her teen years she had studied mathematics, chemistry, and astronomy, and she could speak and write fluently in almost all the major European languages. She also had talents in music and painting and drawing in oil and water colors. Fanny’s parents separated when she was young, and soon after her father died in July 1859 at the age of forty eight, she and her mother moved to Dalkey
. A year later they moved to Dublin, and in 1865 they moved to Paris
where Fanny studied art and wrote poetry. In 1874 they moved to Bordentown, New Jersey
in America.
. While she was living in Dublin in 1864, she began publishing her poetry under the pseudonym Aleria in The Irish People which was the newspaper of the Fenian
Brotherhood. Most of her work was published in The Boston Pilot
which was the best known Irish newspaper in America during the nineteenth century. Two of her most widely published works were The Hovels of Ireland, a pamphlet, and Land League Songs, a collection of poems. Her best known poem is Hold the Harvest, and Michael Davitt
referred to it as the “Marseillaise of the Irish peasant.”
Would you be free, or evermore in rich men's service toil?
The shadow of the dial hangs dark that points the fatal hour
Now hold your own! Or, branded slaves, forever cringe and cower! -
The serpent's curse upon you lies - you writhe within the dust
You fill your mouths with beggars' swill, you grovel for a crust
Your masters set their blood-stained heels upon your shameful heads
Yet they are kind - they leave you still their ditches for your beds! -
Oh by the God who made us all, the master and the serf
Rise up and swear to hold this day your own green Irish turf!
Rise up! And plant your feet as men where now you crawl as slaves
And make your harvest fields your camps, or make of them your graves! -
But God is on the peasant's side, the God that loves the poor,
His angels stand with flaming swords on every mount and moor,
They guard the poor man's flocks and herds, they guard his ripening grain,
The robber sinks beneath their curse beside his ill-got gain.
. At the time of her death, Fanny was survived by her mother, three brothers, and four sisters.
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
, an important figure in nineteenth century Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Although Fanny's life was short, she was a strong willed and accomplished woman.
Early life
Fanny Parnell was born on September 4, 1848 in Avondale, County WicklowCounty Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland into a wealthy Protestant background. She was the eighth child out of eleven and fourth daughter born to John Henry Parnell, a landowner and the grandson of the last Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer, and Delia Tudor Stewart Parnell, an Irish-American and the daughter of Admiral Charles Stewart
Charles Stewart
-UK people:* Charles Stewart , Scottish-born merchant and officeholder involved in the Somersett Case* Charles William Stewart later Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
(1778–1869) of the US Navy. Fanny was an intelligent girl and before she was through her teen years she had studied mathematics, chemistry, and astronomy, and she could speak and write fluently in almost all the major European languages. She also had talents in music and painting and drawing in oil and water colors. Fanny’s parents separated when she was young, and soon after her father died in July 1859 at the age of forty eight, she and her mother moved to Dalkey
Dalkey
Dalkey is suburb of Dublin and seaside resort in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. It was founded as a Viking settlement and became an important port during the Middle Ages. According to John Clyn, it was one of the ports through which the plague entered Ireland in the mid-14th century...
. A year later they moved to Dublin, and in 1865 they moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where Fanny studied art and wrote poetry. In 1874 they moved to Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
in America.
Works
Fanny was known as the Patriot Poet. She showed interest in Irish politics and most of her poetry was about Irish nationalismIrish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
. While she was living in Dublin in 1864, she began publishing her poetry under the pseudonym Aleria in The Irish People which was the newspaper of the Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
Brotherhood. Most of her work was published in The Boston Pilot
The Pilot (newspaper)
The Pilot is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston and claims the title of "America's Oldest Catholic Newspaper", having been in continuous publication since its first issue on September 5, 1829...
which was the best known Irish newspaper in America during the nineteenth century. Two of her most widely published works were The Hovels of Ireland, a pamphlet, and Land League Songs, a collection of poems. Her best known poem is Hold the Harvest, and Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
referred to it as the “Marseillaise of the Irish peasant.”
The Hovels of Ireland
The Hovels of Ireland was a twenty seven page pamphlet published in February 1880. Throughout the pamphlet Fanny discusses the injustices of the Irish peasant and expresses her disgust for the Irish land-owning class, which, ironically, is the class she belongs to. In this pamphlet Fanny uses the following quote to explain that even though her family owned land she and her family were Irish nationalists. “That moral energy which inspires men with the ability and the desire to oppose themselves to injustice, to protest against the abuse of power, even when this injustice and this abuse do not directly affect them is the virtue which is the guaranty of order, security and independence.” The pamphlet was widely published in newspapers and journals. The pamphlet was sold for 25 cents each, and the money earned from this was sent to the Famine Fund.Hold the Harvest
Now are you men or cattle then, you tillers of the soil?Would you be free, or evermore in rich men's service toil?
The shadow of the dial hangs dark that points the fatal hour
Now hold your own! Or, branded slaves, forever cringe and cower! -
The serpent's curse upon you lies - you writhe within the dust
You fill your mouths with beggars' swill, you grovel for a crust
Your masters set their blood-stained heels upon your shameful heads
Yet they are kind - they leave you still their ditches for your beds! -
Oh by the God who made us all, the master and the serf
Rise up and swear to hold this day your own green Irish turf!
Rise up! And plant your feet as men where now you crawl as slaves
And make your harvest fields your camps, or make of them your graves! -
But God is on the peasant's side, the God that loves the poor,
His angels stand with flaming swords on every mount and moor,
They guard the poor man's flocks and herds, they guard his ripening grain,
The robber sinks beneath their curse beside his ill-got gain.
Ladies' Land League
Fanny’s brother, Charles, became active in the Land League, an organization that fought for poor tenant farmers, in 1879 and she strongly supported him. Fanny and her younger sister by four years, Anna Parnell(1852–1911), co-founded the Ladies’ Land League in 1880 to raise money in America for the Land League. In 1881 the Ladies’ Land League continued the work of the men in the Land League while they were being imprisoned by the government. In Ireland Anna became the president of the Ladies’ Land League, and the women held many protests and quickly became even more radical than the men. Meanwhile, Fanny stayed in America and worked to raise money for the organization. Most of the Land League’s financial support came from America because of the campaigning done by Fanny. Fanny’s mother, Delia, had a strong hatred for British ruling and these views were presented through her children’s works.Death
Fanny died on July 20, 1882 at the young age of thirty three. A heart attack suddenly claimed her life at the family mansion in Bordentown, New Jersey. Before her burial, there was a viewing for her friends and family, and she was buried at the Tudor family plot at Mt. Auburn Cemetery located in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. At the time of her death, Fanny was survived by her mother, three brothers, and four sisters.