Art Mac Cumhaigh

Who was Art Mac Cumhaigh?

Art Mac Cumhaigh was, along with Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna, Peadar Ó Doirnín and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta, among the most celebrated of the south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the eighteenth century. As with the latter two he was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song.

It is commonly believed that Mac Cumhaigh was born in Creggan, County Armagh where a branch of the Uí Néill had been the traditional patrons of the poets under the old order. However, the most comprehensive research into Mac Cumhaigh life and workscould only suggest a birthplace on or near the Louth/Armagh border in or near the parish of Creggan. Mac Cumhaigh eked out a living as a spáilpín, or travelling labourer. Seán Ó Tuama and Thomas Kinsella remark about Mac Cumhaigh's most famous poem, Úr-Chill An Chreagáin, that 'in its simple innocence is a more attractive aisling, perhaps, than some more polished vision-songs by the late eighteenth century Munster poets.' Although in that poem the Stuart Pretender is not mentioned, nor is hope of foreign help coming to free Ireland, a standard in aisling poetry, held out.