About the Author Martin McMahon
Honoring Ireland Through Song
Through my songs and historical writings rooted in the Great Famine, I try to bring Ireland’s past to life. My work is driven by a desire to preserve the courage, faith, and enduring spirit of the Irish people.
This website is the result of many years of writing, researching, and reflecting on Irish history — especially the Great Famine, a defining moment in the story of our nation.
I grew up with a deep appreciation for Irish music, storytelling, and the quiet strength of ordinary people. Over time, that appreciation grew into a desire to write songs, plays, and books that honour the memory of those who lived through hardship and carried Ireland forward.
The songs and writings you’ll find here are original works, created to give voice to the experiences of the Famine era and to celebrate the wider Irish spirit. Some pieces are sombre, some hopeful, some reflective — all shaped by a deep love of Ireland and its people.
This site also includes music by my uncle, Jim Hogan, a Clareman whose recordings capture the traditional sound of County Clare in the early 20th century. His music is a treasure, and I’m proud to share it here. He was often asked to record unfamiliar tunes, and those recordings now form an important part of our musical heritage.
Everything on this website is free to download. My hope is that teachers, students, musicians, historians, and anyone with an interest in Ireland will find something meaningful here.
Thank you for taking the time to explore this work.
Martin
Writer • Songwriter • Researcher of Irish History
This website is a labour of love dedicated to preserving the memory of Ireland’s past and sharing the stories that shaped our people.
A Life Shaped by Ireland
I grew up in a farming community in County Clare, where Irish history was not just something taught in school, it was carried in the voices of neighbours, passed down in stories, songs, and the quiet resilience of ordinary people. Those early years gave me a deep appreciation for the heritage, humour, and endurance of the Irish spirit.
In 1969, I left Ireland to build a new life in Australia. I was welcomed warmly, especially in a country where nearly forty percent of people have Irish ancestry. Yet I was surprised to discover how little was known about the conflict in Northern Ireland, even as it filled the newspapers. Many Australians believed it was simply a religious dispute, Catholics versus Protestants, and the ever glorious, magnificent, marvellous, and victorious British army in between, without understanding the long political history behind it.
Explaining the situation in casual conversation proved impossible, and that challenge became the seed of my book I Cry for My People.
I realized that the pamphlet I had written, where the Famine was just a paragraph, was too sparse but it could be a chapter of a book, so I continued.
Discovering the Australian–Irish Connection
While living in Australia, I uncovered the remarkable links between this country, particularly Tasmania, and the Young Irelanders transported after the failed uprising of 1848. Their stories of exile, escape, reinvention, and political courage opened a new chapter in my research. What began as curiosity grew into years of study, writing, and reflection.
These stories are not only Irish stories. They are stories of freedom, endurance, and the human will to rise again. They continue to surprise and inspire me, and I hope they will do the same for you.
Writing, Music, and Memory
My work, songs, plays, books, and historical reflections, is shaped by a desire to honour those who lived through hardship, especially during the Great Famine. Some pieces are sombre, others hopeful, all rooted in a love of Ireland and its people.
This site also features music by my uncle, Jim Hogan, a Clareman whose recordings capture the traditional sound of early‑20th‑century County Clare. His music is a treasure, and I am proud to share it here.
A Free Resource for All
Everything on this website is free to download. My hope is that teachers, students, musicians, historians, and anyone with an interest in Ireland will find something meaningful here, whether a song, a story, a historical insight, or a moment of connection to the past.
Thank you for taking the time to explore this work.
— Martin McMahon
I want to ensure the stories of Ireland’s past, especially the Great Famine, are remembered and shared with future generations. The books and dramatic works capture Ireland’s heritage, honouring the courage, struggles, and resilience of its people. This collection contains original songs written to reflect the lives, losses, and resilience of the Irish people during the Great Famine. All songs are available for free download in MP3 format, along with full lyrics.
Passion, Heritage & Storytelling
Connect with Ireland’s Story
Join Me on My Journey
Stay inspired by Ireland’s history, music, and heritage. Explore my songs, books, and writings, and be part of preserving the stories that shaped a nation.
Ireland has one of the richest literary traditions in the world.
A few of the most famous Irish writers include:
William Butler Yeats – poet and Nobel Prize winner, deeply inspired by Irish mythology and folklore.
James Joyce – author of the novel Ulysses, considered one of the greatest works of modern literature.
Oscar Wilde – playwright and wit, famous for The Picture of Dorian Gray and his brilliant plays.
Samuel Beckett – Nobel Prize–winning playwright who wrote Waiting for Godot.
Seamus Heaney – modern poet and Nobel laureate known for poems about Irish landscape and history.
Jonathan Swift, Oliver Goldsmith, Bram Stoker, Sean O’Casey, C.S. Lewis, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan and many more.
Ireland has a rich tradition of female writers, spanning classic literature to contemporary fiction and poetry. Top names include Sally Rooney, Marian Keyes, Emma Donoghue, Tana French, Edna O’Brien, and Maeve Binchy.
Ireland is also famous for its ancient manuscripts, especially the beautifully illuminated Book of Kells, created by Celtic monks around the 9th century.
