Poet and musician, born Meath, Ireland, 1670; died Ballyfarnon, Ireland, 1737. He lost his sight when a boy, but later became renowned as a harper, and was known as "the last of the Irish bards." Many of his poems are of a lively Pindaric nature, and full of curious turns and twists of meter to suit his airs, and have been utilized by Thomas Moore for many of his "Melodies."