Edward Bunting
1773-1843
Born in Armagh. He
was the first to collect and record the music of Ireland in a systematic
way. He began in Belfast where he was living with Mary Ann and Henry Joy
McCracken, who commissioned him to transcribe the music at the Harp
Festival organised in Belfast in 1792. In 1796 he published A General
Collection of the Ancient Irish Music which included 66 airs. A second
edition
in 1809 added a further 77 airs. A third edition in 1840 contained a further 120
new airs. He is buried in Dublin. It is a common grave and there are others
buried with him but just behind the grave and to the right, is a gravestone with
an inset with the following inscription: To The Memory Of/ Edward Bunting/ Who
Died 21st December 1843/ Aged 70/ Mary Anne Bunting/ His Wife/ Who Died 27th May
1865/ Aged 72/ And Their Only Son/ Anthony Bunting/ Who Died 10th July 1849/
Aged 25
Further information and directions to the
grave are to be found in "The End - An Illustrated Guide to the
Graves of Irish Writers". Click here
to order a copy of this book
