Picture
For many years the image of Cathleen Ni Houlihan appeared on the Irish Bank Notes

Cathleen, the Daughter of Houlihan
(Red Hanrahan's Song about Ireland)

Yeats introduces us to his interpretation of the iconic figure for Ireland, Cathleen Ni Houlihan, in the words of a song sung by his character Red Hanrahan, a wandering Irish poet dedicated to keeping a noble tradition alive.
"While he was singing, his voice began to break, and tears came rolling down his cheeks, and Margaret Rooney put down her face into her hands and began to cry along with him. Then a blind beggar by the fire shook his rags with a sob, and after that there was no one of them all but cried tears down."  They were all crying for Ireland
He developed the character of Cathleen Ni Houlihan further in a later play which was to have a powerful influence on those who who sought Ireland’s independence.

Spoken Word
 The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.


The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

Other Versions

Recording Notes
Arrangement and  recording Ronan McCauley. Guitars Ronan McCauley and Tony Bardon