John Banim (1798-1842)



Irish poet and novelist, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, April 1825. Often called "the Scott of Ireland", Banim describes Irish peasant life in history, from folktales down to contemporary subjects such as their struggle for Catholic emancipation. He wrote poetry such as The Celts' Paradise (1821) based on Irish folklore, but he is better known as a novelist who wrote a series of joint novels with his brother, Michael Banim (1796-1874), Tales of the O'Hara Family (1825, 26, 27). This was a highly successful series, from which his later novels such as The Nowlans (1833) and The Boyne Water (1836) were composed. (Y. Y.)

1.Soggarth Aroon