Willy Brennan

William "Willy" Brennan (also known as John) was an Irish Highwayman caught and hanged in Cork in either 1804[1] 1809[2] or 1812,[3] whose story was immortalised in the ballad "Brennan on the Moor".[4][5]

According to The Reminiscences of a Light Dragoon published in 1840, Brennan was hanged at Caher as witnessed by the author. Whilst no date is mentioned for the hanging, the author arrived in Ireland in 1808 or shortly afterwards, making an 1809 or later date for Brennan's demise more realistic. The reminiscences describe some of Brennan's exploits, his character, his partner-in-crime and ultimately his capture, trial and hanging.[6]

  1. ^ Norman Cazden, Norman Studer, Folk songs of the Catskills, State Univ of New York Press, 1983, pg 414
  2. ^ The Limerick Chronicle, April 22nd 1809 Archived by [LimerickCity.ie]
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPBFS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Brennan on the Moor (trad.)". Bobdylanroots.com. 16 October 1992. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  5. ^ Dictionary of Irish Biography 9 Volume Set
  6. ^ Reminiscences of a Light Dragoon. Free eBook (Google): The United Services Magazine, Volume 33. August 1840. pp. 455–462.