Margaret Burke Sheridan: Maggie from Mayo

Ireland of course has produced its fair share of international heroes, heroines and superstars over the years from sport, music, politics and in many walks of life. From this tiny island we have constantly our men and women have constantly gone to new heights. Some are more well know than others and perhaps Margeret Burke Sheridan fits into the latter. An international singing sensation in the early part of the 20th century, she was born on the 15th of October 1889 and died in 1958. For some she was one of Ireland s greatest talents and an operatic genius. Reports of her death in 1958 highlighted that prowess:

When a great voice the voice of Margaret Burke Sheridan is silenced, something goes out of the world which may not be replaced for centuries, especially if added to the voice there is a greatness of heart such .as everyone recognised In this wonderful singer.

After the death of Terence Mac-Swiney on hunger strike, at a time when Margaret Burke Sheridan, was on the way to fame and when the movement which MacSwlney represented was far from popular in many places, she had the nobility of heart and mind to put his death first and to cancel her performances in tribute.

This gesture showed that she had not only a great voice, but greatness too, and until the end of her life she had the respect and confidence of the Irish leaders, many of whom were present in person last week at the final tributes to her.

Her endearing habit of referring to herself as "Maggie from Mayo" (she was from Castlebar) showed that she didn't "forget herself," the saying goes, and that she didn't want to pretend, as some "successful" Irish people try to do, that she wasn't really "of the Irish." Margaret Burke Sheridan was not only a great artiste, whose golden voice will remain with us on her previous recordings; she was a great woman, witty and outspoken, not afraid to express her own views.

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchives.com)