Background
He was born at 25 Patrick Street, Dublin, the son of John McCall (1822-1902), a publican, grocer and folklorist from Clonmore near Hacketstown in County Carlow.
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Patrick McCall
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He attended Saint Joseph’s Monastery, Harold"s Cross, a Catholic University School.
Career
He was assisted in putting the Wexford ballads, dealing with the 1798 Rising, to music by Arthur Warren Darley using traditional Irish airs. His surname is one of the many anglicizations of the Irish surname Mac Cathmhaoil, a family that were chieftains of Kinel Farry (Clogher area) in County Tyrone. He spent his summer holidays in Rathangan, County Wexford where he spent time with local musicians and ballad singers – his mother came from Rathangan near Duncormick on the south coast of County Wexford.
He also collected many old Irish airs, but is probably best remembered for his patriotic ballads.
Airs gathered at rural céilí and sing-songs were delivered back to the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. He contributed to the Dublin Historical Record, the Irish Monthly, The Shamrock and Old Moore"s Almanac (under the pseudonym Cavellus).
In 1902 he was elected as a Dublin City councillor (defeating James Connolly) and served three terms. As a councillor he concerned himself with local affairs, particularly projects to alleviate poverty.
They lived in the suburb of Sutton, near Howth.
"Follow Maine Up to Carlow" "The Boys of Wexford" "Boolavogue" "The Lowlands Low" "Kelly the Boy from Killanne". His manuscript ballad collection is in the National Library of Ireland.
Membership
He was a member of the group in Dublin which founded the National Literary Society and became its first honorary secretary.
