Julia Crawford

Life
?1800-?1855 [variously cited as Annie, Louise or Louisa, Louisa Macartney, and Louisa Matilda Jane]; author of the “Kathleen Mavourneen” (comp. 1837) and “Dermot Astore”; b. Co. Cavan; dg. of a British soldier and naturalist married to a Macartney; ed. Wiltshire, her father’s home place; contrib. to Metropolitan Magazine, 1830-35; Thomas Moore supposedly wrote lyrics for Russian airs composed by her; prob. used her maiden name; issued Irish Songs (1840), with music by F. N. Crouch; their “Kathleen Mavourneen” became the signature tune of Irish soprano Catherine Hayes (1818-1861) who sang it for Royal Command in Buckingham Palace in 1849; it gained popularity in America following her tours of 1851 and 1856; the name also serves as the title of several silent films. PI DIW ODQ JMC DIL DUB OCIL.

“Kathleen Mavourneen”  

Kathleen Mavourneen the gray dawn is breaking
The horn of the hunter is heard on the hill
The lark from her light wing the bright dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen what slumbering still

Oh have you forgotten how soon we must sever?
Oh have you forgotten this day we must part?
It may be for years and it may be forever
Oh why are you silent thou voice of my heart?
It may be for years and it may be forever;
Then why are you silent Kathleen Mavourneen?

Kathleen Mavourneen awake from thy slumbers
The blue mountains glow in the sun's golden light
Ah! Where is the spell that once hung on my slumbers?
Arise in thy beauty thou star of my night

Mavourneen, Mavourneen my sad tears are falling
To think that from Erin and thee I must part
It may be for years and it may be forever
Then why are you silent thou voice of my heart
It may be for years, and it may be forever;
Then why are you silent, Kathleen Mavourneen?
—Text given at Bells Irish Lyrics - online; accessed 08.07.2023.

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References
Justin McCarthy, ed., Irish Literature (1904), gives dates as ?1800-?1855, and styles her Mrs. Crawford; selects “Kathleen Mavnorneen,” and “Dermot Astore”.

Oxford Dict. of Quotation gives “Kathleen Mavourneen,’ with bio-date, fl.1835.

D. J. O’Donogue in Poets of Ireland (1919) calls her Louisa Matilda Jane Crawford, but cites E. C. Stedman’s Victorian Anthology which gives her name as Louise Macartney Crawford. Native of Cavan, b. 1790, but the daughter of a British soldier and naturalist, of Luckham Hall, Wiltshire. ‘Kathleen Mavorneen’ appeared in the Metropolitan Magazine (1830-40). Moore wrote words for Russian airs composed by her.

Brian Cleeve & Anne Brady in Dictionary of Irish Writers (1967) dates her c.1799-c.1860; b. Co. Cavan; ‘Kathleen’ published Metropolitan, 1830; published Irish Songs, set to music by F. N. Crouch (1840); and several novels.

Kate Newmann, Dictionary of Ulster Biography cites F. N. Crouch.

Abebooks lists Kathleen Mavourneen. Favorite Vocal Music, by F. N. Crouch, words by Mrs Crawford ([London]: Woolcott & Clarke, George Street. 1851). American editions of the song incl. that published in 1876 by Oliver Ditson & Co., 451 Washington St.

Tags: “Kathleen Mavourneen” is commonly listed in digital collections with the subject-tags: Dwellings, Waterfronts, Ships, Beds, Dreaming, Sunrises & sunsets, Absences, Farewells, Sleeping, Sadness, Love, Country life, Immigrants, Ireland. 

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