Johnny Tom Gleeson

Who was Johnny Tom Gleeson?

Johnny Tom Gleeson was an Irish poet and songwriter. He wrote the ballad "The Bould Thady Quill", a spoof on a non-athlete, and two other noted poems: “The Battle Ship Sinn Féin”, his only patriotic piece, and “The Wild Bar-A-Boo”, spoofing the noted Muskerry fox chase that originated in Ballincollig and passed through his townland near Rylane, County Cork. He wrote many more poems of little consequence, mostly spoofing his neighbors and acquaintances.