John Kells Ingram

John Kells Ingram - Author of “Who fears to speak of ’98.” 1823 - 1907. Born in Aghnahoo, Pettigo, where his father was the local Church of Ireland curate, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, John Kells Ingram received his BA degree in 1843. He was named a Fellow of the College in 1846, and took up professorships there, first in Oratory (1852-66) and subsequently in Greek (1866-77). He held the post of librarian from 1879 to 1887, served as a senior lecturer in 1887 and was vice-provost of the college from 1898 to 1899. His first literary publication was the famous poem “Memory of the Dead” otherwise known as “Who fears to speak of ’98.” (1843). His publications spanned many areas including economics, religion and sociology. In 1847 he helped to found the Dublin Statistical Society and in 1873 he founded the “Hermathena” publication.

His best known works include “The History of Political Economy” (1888) which was translated into 11 languages and “Practical Morals” (1904). He championed the cause of admitting women to university education and first opened Trinity College Library so that people in general, could see the great Irish literary treasures such as the Book of Kells. He wrote the famous poem one night after a conversation about the 1798 Rebellion when briefly Catholics and Protestants (mainly Presbyterians and Methodists) united to try and overturn the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland from which all of them were excluded. It was published in the “Nation” newspaper on April 1st, 1843.

“Who fears to speak of Ninety-Eight?
Who blushes at the name?
When cowards mock the patriot’s fate,
Who hangs his head for shame?