Irish Language Broadcast Fund documentary investigates the story of Séamus Mac Murchaidh
Date Posted: February 13, 2023
‘Stop and be robbed by the handsomest man in Ireland’ – is purportedly what was announced by the south Armagh rapparee, Séamus Mór MacMurphy before he relieved travellers of their riches. In a new Irish Language Broadcast Fund programme, Séamus Mac Murchaidh – Díolta Faoina Luach, viewers go on a search of the poet, Gaelic nobleman and rapparee by exploring where the song came from and its lasting legacy in the area. Produced by Macha Media, the documentary airs on Sunday 19th February at 10pm on BBC Two Northern Ireland.
MacMurphy was hanged in 1750 and today a headstone marks his resting place in Creggan graveyard in Armagh. In the same graveyard is the man who hanged him. There is no known official record of the life of Séamus in either Irish or English. But he has his own song.
The song, some of which he may have written himself while in captivity, describes rebellion, repression, love, deceit and betrayal.
Presenter Antaine Ó Donnaile investigates the story of the song and the story of the people who sang it. He finds out how the song was passed down by traditional word of mouth through generations and how it connected the Irish language with the local people of the area. Today, the name of Séamus Mór MacMurphy still echoes around the slopes of Slieve Gullion.
The programme asks how Séamus was betrayed and why he was hanged. Antaine finds out how the song and accounts about him survived in the community and were conserved thanks to the work of Irish language enthusiasts such as Father Lorcán Ó Muirí. By piecing together these stories and songs, Ó Muirí was able to publish a detailed account of the famous outlaw – one of the most enigmatic but tragic figures in Ulster folklore.
The programme also explores the role played by those who were instrumental in his betrayal and his hanging including Molly, the daughter of Patsy McDacker who owned a public house in the area, and Séamus’ adversary, Johnston of the Fews.
There is also an accompanying drama exclusive to BBC iPlayer. Séamus Mac Murchaidh – An Dráma, available from Sunday 19th February, tells the epic and tragic tale of the notorious south Armagh outlaw.
Insíonn clár fáisnéise nua de chuid an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge scéal Séamus Mac Murchaidh
‘Stad agus goidfidh an fear is deise in Éirinn uait’ – is cosúil gurbh é sin an rosc a d’fhógair Séamus Mór Mac Murchaidh, an ceithearnach coille as deisceart Ard Mhacha, sular bhain sé a stór de thaistealaithe. I gclár úr de chuid an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, Séamus Mac Murchaidh – Díolta Faoina Luach, téitear sa tóir ar an fhile, ar an uasal Gaelach agus ar an ropaire trí thaiscéalaíocht a dhéanamh ar cheantar an amhráin agus ar an oidhreacht a d’fhág sé ar an áit. Léirithe ag Macha Media beidh an clár ar BBC Two Northern Ireland ag 10 i.n ar an 19ú Feabhra.
Crochadh Mac Murchaidh in 1750 agus tá leac os cionn a uaighe i reilig an Chreagáin in Ard Mhacha. Ina luí sa reilig chéanna, tá an fear a chroch é. Go bhfios dúinn, níl aon taifead oifigiúil ar fáil de shaol Shéamuis, i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla. Ach tá a amhrán féin aige.
Pléann an t-amhrán le héirí amach, le cos ar bolg, leis an ghrá, le calaois agus leis an fheall, agus deirtear gur scríobh Séamus féin cuid de agus é i ngéibheann.
Fiosraíonn Antaine Ó Donnaile, láithreoir an chláir, scéal an amhráin agus scéal na ndaoine a chan é. Faigheann sé amach gur cuireadh an t-amhrán ar aghaidh ó bhéal go béal síos tríd na blianta ó ghlúin go glúin agus go nascann sé an Ghaeilge le muintir na háite. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá macalla ainm Shéamuis Mhóir Mhic Mhurchaidh le cluinstin go fóill thart ar mhalaí Shliabh gCuilinn.
Fiosraíonn an clár mar a díoladh Séamus faoina luach agus an chúis gur crochadh é. Faigheann Antaine amach gur mhair an t-amhrán agus na scéalta faoi Shéamus sa cheantar agus gur shábháil díograiseoirí Gaeilge, amhail An tAthair Lorcán Ó Muirí, iad. I ndiaidh dó blúiríní de na scéalta agus na h-amhráin a chur le chéile, bhí Ó Muirí in ann mionchuntas a thabhairt ar an tóraí iomráiteach – a bhí ar dhuine de na daoine is seachantaí agus is tragóidí i mbéaloideas Chúige Uladh.
Fiosraíonn an clár fosta an ról a d’imir na daoine sin a bhí lárnach san fheallaireacht agus sa chrochadh, lena n-áirítear Mollaí, iníon le Patsaí Mac Giolla Deacair a raibh tábhairne aige sa cheantar, agus Johnston na bhFeá, deargnamhaid Shéamuis.
Tá dráma leis fosta a bheidh ar BBC iPlayer amháin. Insíonn Séamus Mac Murchaidh – An Dráma scéal eipiciúil agus tragóideach an cheithearnaigh coille chlúitigh as deisceart Ard Mhacha agus beidh fáil air ón Domhnach 19 Feabhra.
