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The Colleen Bawn- Ellen Hanley

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PICTURE CREDIT SECRET-IRELAND.COM

In 1819 a young girl of fifteen Ellen Hanley ( Scanlon ) was murdered by her husbands servant Stephen Sullivan and it was her husband who ordered Sullivan to carry out the murder.

They lived in County Limerick, Ireland and had been married for about six weeks when John Scanlon ordered Sullivan to take her on a boat on the River Shannon and do away with her.

His mother it seems had found him a girl of better class and the promise of a large dowry,

at first Sullivan lost his nerve and went back to Scanlon who plied him with whiskey and it gave him dutch courage enabling him to carry out the murder.

He stripped her of her clothing and removed her wedding ring then threw her into the River Shannon.

Some weeks passed and then her body washed ashore at Moneypoint, Kilrush on the other side of the river in County Clare, Ireland.

Scanlon was arrested and thought his wealth would save him and the fact that Ellen was a commoner .

Sullivan went on the run but was eventually caught, both men were found guilty and both hanged for her murder.

The Colleen Bawn is an anglicized spelling of Cailin Ban which means pure/innocent girl.

That is the name that Ellen Hanley is now known.

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Young Ellen Hanley caught John Scanlon’s eye He was determined that she’d be his wife Their marriage was cursed and Ellen would die On the River Shannon she lost her life. She was a beauty but of lower class He belonged to a wealthy family A few weeks later grew tired of the lass She was found in Shannon’s estuary. His servant killed Ellen a girl so young And from a boat threw her over the side Both men found guilty and from gallows hung Her dead body washed ashore with the tide. In Clare there stands a memorial stone The Colleen Bawn she is now better known. Written on 28 January 2019

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Sandra Haight

Date: 3/15/2019 10:52:00 AM

Such a well-written, historical Sonnet you composed as a tribute to this poor young girl, Tom. Congratulations on your win. Sandra

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/15/2019 11:29:00 AM

Thank you Sandra, even though it happened 200 years ago its quite a well known story in Ireland. Tom.

Mark Toney

Date: 3/13/2019 1:50:00 PM

Tom, you keep coming through with excellent historical poetry! That poor girl never had a chance. She deserves a fitting tribute. Congratulations on your win on Mile 23 of my 2019 Poetry Marathon Contest! Only 4 contests to go before the final! ~Mark

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/13/2019 3:06:00 PM

Thank you very much Mark, it was a gruesome tale and thankfully Scanlon despite his wealth did not escape justice or the hangman. Thanks also for my placement. Tom.

Line Gauthier

Date: 3/13/2019 1:23:00 PM

Bravo, Tom. A wonderful tribute. Congrats on your well deserved win.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/13/2019 3:00:00 PM

Thank you very much Line, when I was in Ireland and heard the story that happened two hundred years ago, I couldn't get it out of my mind, There has been a play and even a film but no poem dedicated to Ellen so felt I had to compose one. Tom.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/11/2019 2:47:00 PM

Just reading your reply to my comment just now. isn't it sad that what used to be so rare is now almost common place??

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/11/2019 2:52:00 PM

I agree Andrea, in some cultures' honour killings' are rife and we don't get to hear half of what goes on. Tom.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/3/2019 4:24:00 PM

Wow Tom, I loved reading about her background story. How sad that she was so young and treated so ghastly. You have immortalized her with your wonderful tribute. Bravo! xxoo : )

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/3/2019 5:07:00 PM

Thanks Connie, I was at her memorial only two weeks ago and thought I'd write a verse in her memory, it is such a tragic story. Tom

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 1/31/2019 8:07:00 PM

G'day Tom … they were the days when your wealth proved your innocence, but not this time. Well written Tom - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2019 2:53:00 AM

Thanks Lindsay, even a top lawyer couldn't save them, justice was served. Tom.

P.S. Awtry

Date: 1/31/2019 7:58:00 PM

What a story! You told it very well! :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 2/1/2019 2:33:00 AM

Thanks P.S. Tom.

Alexis Y.

Date: 1/31/2019 3:49:00 PM

Hi Tom, This is such a sad and tragic tale. My heart goes out to a young that barely had a chance to live.Those two men got what that deserved. I'm glad that justice prevailed. Excellent job- Alexis

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/31/2019 3:55:00 PM

Thank you Alexis, it was tragic, Scanlon thought his family's influence would save him from the hangman, thankfully for Ellen it didn't. Tom.

Vladislav Raven

Date: 1/30/2019 7:26:00 AM

Hi Tom, I love your creativity in putting forward this piece, based on a true event. This is a most intersting and sad story. A wonderful read Tom. A fave. have a wonderful wednesday. Your friend always....Mike.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/30/2019 2:00:00 PM

Thank you Mike, glad you enjoyed it . It was a tragic story indeed. Tom.

Charles Messina

Date: 1/30/2019 5:56:00 AM

If you weren't, you should have been a history teacher, Tom. Very interesting story with a very well written poem to go with it. Nicely done! -Charlie

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/30/2019 6:04:00 AM

Thanks Charlie, its quite a famous story in Ireland even though it happened two hundred years ago, only last friday I was at the memorial before catching the ferry over to County Limerick where she came from and it was out on the river Shannon where I crossed that she was murdered. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/29/2019 3:07:00 PM

I find these stories interesting and see lots of true crime enactments on tv. I never heard of this one. you showed it very well through sonnet form.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 3:17:00 PM

Thank you Andrea, it was a horrific crime and it shocked all classes in Ireland, two hundred years ago it happened, autumn of 1819. Tom.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 1/29/2019 2:49:00 PM

What an interesting story is behind your lovely sonnet, Tom. What happened to Colleen is a tragedy, but at least the perpetrators were caught and punished. Thanks also for sharing the picture; it is nice that she is remembered. Captivating, Tom! Love, Carolyn

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 2:53:00 PM

Thank you very much Carolyn, only last Friday I was at that memorial, I wanted to use a picture I took but it was too dark. It certainly was a horrific murder but justice was served. Tom.

Paul Callus

Date: 1/29/2019 12:39:00 PM

What a sad and tragic end for such a young lass, Tom! Your poem comprises the eventful main points that led to her death and to that of her killer/s. Regards // paul

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 2:09:00 PM

Thank you Paul, it happened 200 years ago but it is still talked about. Funny though how recent murders are soon forgotten, it doesn't seem to shock us anymore. Tom.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 1/29/2019 10:12:00 AM

tom,you did tremendous justice to this tale with this eloquent write... k am amazed!....huggs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 12:19:00 PM

Thank you very much Nette. Tom.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/29/2019 8:33:00 AM

Vintage T.C. -- another wonderful, instructive morsel of history, … kind of a twisted Rome and Juliet theme in a way. Nicely done! ~ Gershon

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 12:21:00 PM

Thank you Gershon, it certainly had a tragic ending. Sadly today that class thing goes on. Tom.

Harry Horsman

Date: 1/29/2019 4:02:00 AM

Love how you have adapted this wonderful true story, Tom, into poetry..love it..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 4:39:00 AM

Thank you Harry, I was there recently and after researching the story found there was no poems written about that horrific crime, books and even a film has been made. Tom.

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 1/28/2019 7:24:00 PM

Very well written TOM!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 4:39:00 AM

Thank you Janet. Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 4:34:00 AM

Thank you Timothy. Tom.

Janet Bingham
Date: 1/28/2019 11:52:00 PM

I enjoyed reading your poem. The content was true and written well. What a tribute to the story of the woman and also what a tribute to you who would write about something so sad and shocking. Janet Marie Bingham

Ilene Bauer

Date: 1/28/2019 5:44:00 PM

a touching tribute to the colleen bawn, tom! what a tragic tale!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/29/2019 4:35:00 AM

Thank you very much Ilene, yes it shocked Ireland at the time due to the horrific injuries' she sustained, thankfully justice was served. Tom.

Vijay Pandit

Date: 1/28/2019 1:43:00 PM

You gave her a voice with this lovely poem, Tom. A tragic story..the memorial a reminder for everyone. Thanks for the note about the background.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/28/2019 3:28:00 PM

Thank you Vijay, it was a tragic story that's even talked about today, I passed by her memorial last Friday when I was in Ireland. Tom.

Constance La France

Date: 1/28/2019 1:26:00 PM

Tom, wow, and how interesting and horrible to think things like this happen but they do, thank you for sharing ~

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/28/2019 3:26:00 PM

Thank you D.H. Sadly even today some cultures have a class system forgetting that we are all equal. Tom.

Besma Riabi Dziri

Date: 1/28/2019 1:05:00 PM

The beauty of human traits and values are always highly esteemed and immortalised, even though underrated by ugly souls and evil hearts.. A well crafted and wonderful Sonnet! A profound message worthy to be read and appreciated! Thank you so much, Tom for sharing.. my deepest regards and Blessings.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/28/2019 3:15:00 PM

Thank you very much Besma, sadly even today there is much evil in our world. I'm happy that you liked it despite that it was so tragic. Regards. Tom.

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 1/28/2019 1:00:00 PM

Should you be traveling more often to Ireland dear, Tom for to bring us such fascinating stories depicted in verses so fine? Excellent poem but a tragic story my friend!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/28/2019 3:08:00 PM

Thanks Demetrios, its on the cards, both my parents were from County Clare on the west coast. Yes, it was a tragic story indeed. Tom.

Joseph May

Date: 1/28/2019 11:13:00 AM

Such a sad story of greed and the idea that wealth will free him of his dastardly deed.. WEll written...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 1/28/2019 12:16:00 PM

Thank you Joseph, thankfully they paid for their heinous crime I was at the monument last Friday. Tom .