Thomas Furlong

Who was Thomas Furlong?

Thomas Furlong, was an Irish poet.

Furlong was the son of a farmer, born at Scarawalsh, situated between Ferns and Enniscorthy, County Wexford. He obtained an appointment in the counting-house of an extensive distillery at Dublin, where he continued until his death.

His first work was a poem, 'The Misanthrope', composed, he stated, with the object of reclaiming a friend who, owing to early disappointments, had retired from society. It was withdrawn by the author on account of numerous typographical errors. He issued a second edition at Dublin in 1821, with other poems. A poem entitled 'The Plagues of Ireland: an Epistle,' appeared at Dublin in 1824, with a view to promoting Catholic Emancipation. He described his work as "a little sketch and hasty picturing" of the more prominent evils and grievances which should be removed before that "harassed land" of Ireland could calculate on the enjoyment of tranquility. To 'The Plagues of Ireland' Furlong appended a few 'occasional poems.' He contributed largely to the 'New Monthly Magazine,' as well as to other periodicals, and projected a literary journal at Dublin. Thomas Moore, Charles Maturin, and Lady Morgan praised his work.