William Allingham 1824-1889
Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. He
was a customs officer in Killybegs and other Irish ports before going to
England. He left the service after 24 years and became sub-editor of Fraser’s
Magazine. His work includes the long narrative poem Laurence Bloomfield in
Ireland, his poetry and his Diaries. Most people will remember him for his poem
The Fairies (Up the airy mountain etc). He influenced W.B. Yeats who
acknowledged Allingham as his ‘master in Irish verse’. He
is
buried in Ballyshannon.
