William Orr

Life
1766-1797; United Irishman; b. Farranshane, Co. Antrim, of Presbyterian farming and linen-producing (bleachery) family; advocated moderate views at Carrickfergus meetings; arrested on charge of administering illegal United Irishmeens oath to two soldiers, 1796; unsuccessfully defended against charge of treason by Curran, sentenced and hanged at Carrickfergus, 14 Oct. 1797; his execution aroused great popular indignation and became the subject of a celebrated elegy-ballad by William Drennan. ODNB DIB

 

Criticism
The Northern Leaders of ’98 - “No 1: William Orr” (Dublin: Maunsel & Co 1906).

 

References
Justin McCarthy, ed., Irish Literature, 10 vols. (Washington: University of America 1904), Vol. 3, selects “The Wake of William Orr”’ by William Drennan (p.925); rep. also in Brendan Kennelly, ed. & intro., Penguin Book of Irish Verse (Harmondsworth: Penguin 1970), pp.126-27. See further under Drennan [supra].

[ top ]