Johnny Patterson

Who was Johnny Patterson?

John Francis Patterson was an Irish singer, song writer and circus entertainer.

He was born in Kilbarron, Feakle, County Clare. Both his parents had died by the time he was three years old and so he was raised by an uncle in Ennis. At the age of 14 he enlisted in the 63rd Regiment of Foot which was based in Limerick at the time. He learned to play various instruments especially piccolo and drums. When a circus came to Limerick he got a part-time job in its band and so bought himself out of the Army. He was soon given a long-term contract and billed as "The Irish Singing Clown." He worked for other circuses in Ireland before crossing to England. Between 1865-1867, he was a drummer performing in a circus run by Pablo Fanque, the black English circus proprietor, and John Swallows. He remained with Fanque through 1869, performing in Scotland, Ireland, and England. It was Fanque who effectively launched his career. John Nee, an Irish actor who portrayed Patterson in a 2010 stage production about his life said:

In Liverpool he met and married a circus bareback rider, Selena Hickey. Around this time he composed the song The Garden Where the Praties Grow. His fame grew until he was offered a contract in America in 1876 separating from his wife and family.