“The Bould Thady Quill” is a popular traditional Irish song. The song is ironic as it was written about an individual living in County Cork who was actually far from heroic.
It is common to hear critics or knockers, who, of course, never knew the man, emphatically assert that he was a phoney, while others, equally misinformed allege that he was utterly useless, an idler and parasite possessing innumerable vices and insisting that he never participated in any form of sport. It is only fair to the man that, because of the extremes of misrepresentation, he should be placed in proper perspective. We have his prowess and achievements fancifully exaggerated in the ballad and his shortcomings unfairly highlighted by his detractors….
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