An Irish nationalist and poet, Ledwidge was the protege of Lord Dunsany, to whom he sent a volume of his poetry in 1911. He signed up with the Irish Volunteers to fight with the British in WWI and while serving abroad on active duty a volume of fifty of his poems published as Songs of the Field. While recovering wounded in Manchester in 1916 he received news of the Easter Rising in Dublin and the executions of nationalist leaders that followed it. Dejected, in response he wrote his best-known poem in honor of the executed nationalist leader and a close friend, Thomas McDonagh. He was killed...
An Irish nationalist and poet, Ledwidge was the protege of Lord Dunsany, to whom he sent a volume of his poetry in 1911. He signed up with the Irish V...
