Francis Ledwidge

Francis Edward Ledwidge was an Irish war poet from County Meath. Sometimes known as the poet of the blackbirds, he was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele during World War I.

Ledwidge was born at Janeville, Slane, in Ireland, the eighth of nine children in a povertystricken family. His parents, Patrick Ledwidge and wife Anne Lynch , believed in giving their children the best education they could afford. But when Francis was only five his father Patrick died prematurely, which forced his wife and the children out to work at an early age. Francis left the local national school aged thirteen, and while he continued to educate himself, he worked at what work he could find, as farm hand, road mender and supervisor of roads, as copper miner and shop assistant. Appointed secretary of the Slane branch of the Meath Labour Union he had aspirations of permanent whitecollar work. He was known for his connections with Sinn Fin.

Source: Wikipedia