Sir, – The suggestion in An Irishman’s Diary that Amhrán na bhFiann has “impeccably ecumenical credentials” is even more true than the author may have realised (Frank McNally, May 5th).
The person responsible for its first musical arrangement had, as a young man, been a parishioner and organist in the High Anglican Church of St John in Sandymount, Dublin. His name was Cecil Grange McDowell. He later espoused the national cause and became known as Cathal Mac Dubhghaill. As a member of the Irish Volunteers, he served in Boland’s Mills throughout the 1916 rebellion. During the conflict, he converted to Rome. He married in 1921 republican poet Maeve Cavanagh.
With the baritone E O’Connor Cox, he travelled all over Ireland bringing Amhrán na bhFiann to the population.
Also a talented artist, he designed the letterpress on the original copy of the song’s score.
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He died, aged 46, in 1926 in Nice, France, and is buried there in a communal grave. – Yours, etc,
ALYSON GAVIN LYSAGHT,
Merrion,
Dublin 4.
