Freeman’s Journal 14th April, 1866 p.229 (abridged)
In Ireland in ’48 a good many editors of newspapers were arrested, but not one ballad singer. In ’65 only one disloyal editor, Mr. Clark Luby, has been arrested; but the arrests of ballad singers in Cork, Dublin, Tralee, Limerick, and the country towns of the south has now given constant employment to the police. Not a fair is held in Ireland now at which the authorities do not take precautions for seizing upon the ballad singers, and confiscating their seditious wares – street literature reprinted by the Fenians and purchased extensively by the people. The Young Irelanders never would have re-published such lines as these;
The forward stepped young Boney,
And took me by the hand,
Saying, “How is old Ireland,
And how does she stand?”
“It’s as poor distressed a nation
As ever you have seen,
They are hanging men and women
For the wearing of the Green!”
One ballad has attained extensive popularity. As a ballad slip it appears anonymously, but Mr. McGlashan’s publication gives authorship to a Fenian, Mr. Charles Kickham of Mullinahone – the same Mr. Charles J. Kickham, we presume, who was arrested with the famous head centre and prison breaker, Stephens. It is “Patrick Sheehan” (The Glen of Aherlow).
The Burren and Beyond 