Zozimus
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Moran popularly known as Zozimus, was an Irish
street rhymer. He was a resident of Dublin and also known as the "Blind Bard of the Liberties" and the "Last of the Gleemen".
and lived in Dublin all his life. At two weeks old he was blinded by illness. However, he developed an astounding memory for verse and he made his living reciting poems, many of which he had composed himself, in his own lively, though semi-literate, manner. He was described by the song writer P.J. McCall as the last gleeman of the Pale.
Many of his rhymes had religious themes, whereas others were political or recounted recent events. He is said to have worn " "a long, coarse, dark, frieze coat with a cape, the lower parts of the skirts being scalloped, an old soft, greasy, brown beaver hat, corduroy trousers and Francis Street brogues, and he carried a long blackthorn stick secured to his wrist with a strap."
He performed all over Dublin including at Essex Bridge, Wood Quay, Church Street, Dame Street, Capel Street, Sackville Street, Grafton Street, Henry Street, and Conciliation Hall. He began each oration with the verse:
In his last few years, his voice grew weak and was costing him his only means of livelihood. He ended up feeble and bedridden and he died on 3 April 1846 at his lodgings in 15 Patrick Street, aged around 61, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
two days later on Palm Sunday. He had feared graverobbers which were rife in Dublin at the time. In one of his narrative songs, he begged his long-established companion, "Stony Pockets":
He was buried in Glasnevin's Prospect Cemetery which was guarded day and night. His grave remained unmarked until the late 1960s when the famous traditional Irish musical band The Dublin City Ramblers erected a tombstone in his memory. The grave is still intact in the "Poor Ground" of the cemetery and can be located using the co-ordinates AG 30 South, not far from Daniel O'Connell
's burial site.
His epitaph reads:
. According to legend, she had followed pilgrims to Jerusalem with the intent of seducing them, then, turning penitent on finding herself withheld from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
by a supernatural force, she fled to the desert and spent the remainder of her life in solitary penance. When she was at the point of death, God sent Zosimas of Palestine
to hear her confession and give her Holy Communion, and a lion to dig her grave. The poem has the intolerable cadence of the eighteenth century, but was so popular, and so often called for, that Moran was soon nicknamed "Zozimus" [sic], and by that name is he remembered.
".
In Praise of Potheen
The Song of Zozimus
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
street rhymer. He was a resident of Dublin and also known as the "Blind Bard of the Liberties" and the "Last of the Gleemen".
Biography
Michael J. Moran was born circa 1794 in Faddle Alley off the Black Pits in Dublin's historic LibertiesThe Liberties
The Liberties of Dublin, Ireland were jurisdictions that existed since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. They were town lands united to the city, but still preserving their own jurisdiction. The most important of these liberties were the Liberty of St...
and lived in Dublin all his life. At two weeks old he was blinded by illness. However, he developed an astounding memory for verse and he made his living reciting poems, many of which he had composed himself, in his own lively, though semi-literate, manner. He was described by the song writer P.J. McCall as the last gleeman of the Pale.
Many of his rhymes had religious themes, whereas others were political or recounted recent events. He is said to have worn " "a long, coarse, dark, frieze coat with a cape, the lower parts of the skirts being scalloped, an old soft, greasy, brown beaver hat, corduroy trousers and Francis Street brogues, and he carried a long blackthorn stick secured to his wrist with a strap."
He performed all over Dublin including at Essex Bridge, Wood Quay, Church Street, Dame Street, Capel Street, Sackville Street, Grafton Street, Henry Street, and Conciliation Hall. He began each oration with the verse:
"Ye sons and daughters of Erin,
Gather round poor Zozimus, yer friend;
Listen boys, until yez hear
My charming song so dear."
In his last few years, his voice grew weak and was costing him his only means of livelihood. He ended up feeble and bedridden and he died on 3 April 1846 at his lodgings in 15 Patrick Street, aged around 61, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
two days later on Palm Sunday. He had feared graverobbers which were rife in Dublin at the time. In one of his narrative songs, he begged his long-established companion, "Stony Pockets":
"Oh Stony, Stony
Don't let the Sack-'em-Ups get me
Send round the hat
And buy me a grave."
He was buried in Glasnevin's Prospect Cemetery which was guarded day and night. His grave remained unmarked until the late 1960s when the famous traditional Irish musical band The Dublin City Ramblers erected a tombstone in his memory. The grave is still intact in the "Poor Ground" of the cemetery and can be located using the co-ordinates AG 30 South, not far from Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
's burial site.
His epitaph reads:
My burying place is of no concern to me,
In the O'Connell circle let it be,
As to my funeral, all pomp is vain,
Illustrious people does prefer it plain."
Nickname
Moran's nickname derived from a poem written by Anthony Coyle, Roman Catholic Bishop of Raphoe about Saint Mary of EgyptMary of Egypt
Mary of Egypt is revered as the patron saint of penitents, most particularly in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic churches, as well as in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches.-Life:...
. According to legend, she had followed pilgrims to Jerusalem with the intent of seducing them, then, turning penitent on finding herself withheld from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also called the Church of the Resurrection by Eastern Christians, is a church within the walled Old City of Jerusalem. It is a few steps away from the Muristan....
by a supernatural force, she fled to the desert and spent the remainder of her life in solitary penance. When she was at the point of death, God sent Zosimas of Palestine
Zosimas of Palestine
Venerable Zosimas of Palestine, also called Zosima, is commemorated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches on April 4....
to hear her confession and give her Holy Communion, and a lion to dig her grave. The poem has the intolerable cadence of the eighteenth century, but was so popular, and so often called for, that Moran was soon nicknamed "Zozimus" [sic], and by that name is he remembered.
Works
Some of Zozimus's rhymes still survive, though now as songs, such as "Saint Patrick was a Gentleman" ("Saint Patrick was a gentleman, he came of decent people, In Dublin town he built a Church, and upon't put a steeple"), "The Twangman", "Ye Men of Sweet Liberties Hall" and "The Finding of MosesThe Finding of Moses
"The Finding of Moses" is a poem by the Irish street poet Zozimus . It describes, in broad Dublin dialect, an event in the early life of Moses recorded in the Old Testament.-Text:...
".
In Praise of Potheen
O long life to the man who invented potheen -
Sure the Pope ought to make him a martyr -
If myself was this moment Victoria, the Queen,
I'd drink nothing but whiskey and wather.
The Song of Zozimus
Gather round me boys, will yez
Gather round me?
And hear what I have to say,
Before ould Sally brings me
My bread and jug of tay.
I live in Faddle Alley,
Off Blackpits near the Coombe;
With my poor wife called Sally,
In a narrow, dirty room.
Gather round me, and stop yer noise,
Gather round me till my tale is told;
Gather round me, ye girls and ye boys,
Till I tell yez stories of the days of old;
Gather round me, all ye ladies fair,
And ye gentlemen of renown;
Listen, listen, and to me repair,
Whilst I sing of beauteous Dublin town.
Legacy
- A private art gallery in Dublin - Gallery Zozimus - is named after him.
- The magazine Zozimus, 1870-72
- Zoz, or the Irish Charivari, 1876-79
- The New York collection of stories, The Zozimus Papers (1889)
- A 2007 compendium of Irish comic poetry was entitled Ireland’s Other Poetry: Anonymous to Zozimus. Several of Zozimus's poems were included.
Biographical and other texts
- Yeats, W. B. (1893) "Zozimus, Michael Moran, the Last of the Gleemen" in: Yeats’s 'Celtic Twilight printed prev. as "The Last Gleeman" from The National Observer
- Gulielmus, Dubliniensis Humoriensis (1976) Memoir of the Great Original Zozimus (Michael Moran) the Celebrated Dublin Street Rhymer and Reciter, with His Songs, Sayings and Recitations; facsimile ed. (Carraig chapbooks) Blackrock (Co. Dublin): Carraig Books ISBN 0902512110 (original ed.: Dublin: M'Glashan & Gill, 1871)
- Boylan, Henry (1978) "Michael Moran (Zozimus)" in: A Dictionary of Irish Biography. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan
- Harte, Frank (1978) Songs of Dublin. Dublin: Gilbert
- Uíbh Eachach, Vivian (1990) Zozimus agus a Chairde ('Zozimus and his Friends'). [Dublin?]: An GúmAn GúmAn Gúm was an Irish state company tasked with the publication of Irish literature, especially educational materials.The agency is now part of Foras na Gaeilge. Its mission statement is "To produce publications and resources in support of Irish-medium education and of the use of Irish in general."...
(retold for children) - Zimmerman, Georges Denis (2002) Songs of Irish Rebellion: Irish Political Street Ballads and Rebel Songs, 1780-1900. Dublin: Four Courts Press
- Jackson, John Wyse & McDonnell, Hector (2007) Ireland's Other Poetry: Anonymous to Zozimus. Lilliput Press ISBN 978 184351 122 9