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William Allingham

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William Allingham.
 

(1824-98)

One of Donegal's best known poets is William Allingham a native of Ballyshannon. He is probably best remembered for his poem 'The Fairies'.

Allingham was born in 1824 in a building now occupied by the Allied Irish bank. A bust of him is displayed in the bank along with a pane of glass on which he had etched

This name's duration shall surpass
The hand that wrote it in the glass.

 

During his career Allingham was inspired by the scenery and events in his native Donegal to write many poems, one The Eviction related to the eviction of 47 families by Donegal Landlord John George Adair.

 

The Fairies.

Up the airy mountain
Down the rushy glen
We daren't go a-hunting
For fear of little men.

Read the rest of the poem.

The bridge over the river Erne is named after Allingham, he died in 1898 and was buried in St Anne's churchyard.

A Chronology of William Allingham.

  
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