Orwin and Sebana

The Irish Romeo and Juliet Story

A chara,

I hope you are well.

You mentioned to me that you would love to hear some truly memorable Irish stories and the first one that came to mind when I was planning the Christmas recipes had to be the story of Orwin and Sebana, Ireland’s own Romeo and Juliet. Instead of being a work of fiction, there is far more than a hint of truth to this story. About fifty years after Shakespeare wrote his masterpiece, our Irish forbidden love story, somewhere between legend and truth unfolded. I wanted to share this with you as this story is simply magic.

The story took place in the 1650s during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. This was the period of the re-conquest of Ireland by the Commonwealth of England, led by Oliver Cromwell.

Sebana was a Nugent, only daughter of the Black Baron who owned Ross Castle, a furious man and an English Royalist. Orwin was the head of the O’Reilly clan and an Irish rebel fighter. Their forbidden love was doomed from the start.

Orwin was wounded in battle and hid out in the ruins of his family castle, Crover Castle on Crover Island in Lough Sheelin, County Cavan. The castle had been cannonballed by Cromwell during the re-conquest of Ireland, destroying half of it.

Sebana was greatly confined to her father’s estate during the rebellion and was known to walk along the shores of Lough Sheelin in the evening. One night she heard music being carried through the night air over Lough Sheelin, coming from Crover Island. She rowed over to the island where she found Orwin, wounded and playing his harp. She kept visiting and gradually they fell in love. They knew that they had to keep their love a secret because he was in hiding.

Then Sebana caught a fever, possibly pneumonia from being out on Lough Sheelin at all hours and she spent a couple of weeks in her tower bedroom recovering. During those few lonely weeks, Orwin began to believe that she had abandoned him. Distraught, he died from his wounds and a broken heart. As soon as Sebana became well enough, she returned to Crover Island to find his lifeless body. Orwin’s ghost then appeared to her and asked her to bury him on the land around Ross Castle, so that she can see him from her bedroom window.

Sebana arranged his burial in a grave close to Ross Castle as he wished. Not long after she died of a broken heart. She was buried alongside him and now it is said that they now both haunt Lough Sheelin together. Today there is a plaque there in honour of their forbidden, tragic love. Her tower bedroom still stands, as does the ruins of Crover Castle, which was built in 1393 by Thomas McMahon O’Reilly during the O’Reilly reign.

In the 1800s, local poet Phil O’Connell captured the story in a truly beautiful poem and it is spreading around the world again through the artbook of local talented artist Kim Gaffney. What I find so endearing about this story is that local artist Kim only came to art recently in life and works in community palliative care, providing end of life care. I am sure she knows much about both love encompassing all, even in death.

I wanted you to enjoy the beautiful poem about this story so that it doesn’t slip through the passage of time.

Orwin and Sebanna

Wild shone the moon o'er Sheelin's wave
And silent night involved the world
When Orwin left his secret cave
Where round his home the white wave curled
From splendid home and festive halls
By wars oppressive power driven
Alone he mourned his early fall
Nor felt a hope save chat of heaven
Within a solitary isle
By Sheelin’s murmuring waves surrounded
The ruins of a Gothic pile
Received him joyless and confounded
Lonely he wandered on the shore
And sighed for friends in battle falling
Again he sees them drenched in gore
And fondly each dear name recalling
"Where are the brave" he sadly cried
Dear lovely Erin once thy glory
In vain to save thee have they died
Nor lives one bard to grace thy story
Mighty O'Neill are thine eyes closed
That keenly blazed in battles danger
Weak is that arm so long opposed
To Erin's foes her great avenger
Near what lone river are ye laid
Ye great O'Donnell of the mountains
Or do ye roam like me dismayed
Or mourn by the moon light fountains
Green is thy grave, without a stone
Enclosed by the blue rolling waters
Yet long shall thy dear name be known
In the sad songs of Erin's daughters
Nation of heroes art thou quelled
And does the chain of bondage humble
Those who so long the thistle held
Where died the lion trembled
Thus mused he when the morning owl
Flew fearless round the woe-warn strangers
Who startled as the watch dogs howl
For on the shore seemed threatening danger
But yet one feeling sheared his heart
While every other hope departed
All powerless love's infusing dart
Gives life one charm though broken-hearted
Far o'er the waves high on the shore
Proud Ross displays its lofty towers
Where she who cheered his mone heart's core
Oft wandered in its peaceful bowers
Sebana was the fair one named
The proud Black Baron's only daughter
For tender love and fondness famed
Yet lovers in vain besought her
In seasons mild twas her delight
To wander through her native bowers
In the calm silence of the night
And muse away the harmless hours
Once as along the foam crowned shore
Beneath the moon's pale silver glowing
She stood to hear the waters roar
And well responding boatmen rowing
The waves where still the rowers sang
DIed softly on the distant billow
And all was silent as the tongue
Of him who sleeps on Death's cold pillow
When sudden to her raptured ears
Came sound more sweet more to inspire
Each enchanted soul that human care
Had e'er drawn from the trembling wire
The sound seemed from an angel's band
So sweetly soft so deeply moving
Then rising in the Zephyr bland
Their strains unceasing in wild notes roving
Transfixed by the enchanting song
She leaned upon a bending willow
Till the last notes in echoes rung
Came softly o'er the silent billow
Urged by curiosity to know
From whence the magic sounds proceeded
She called her page oft wont to row
Her little boat, when pleasure needed
The well known voyage was not far
Soon on the lonely island landed
When from the castles windows' glare
The twinkling light with moon beams blended
Afraid yet anxious to advance
She wandering stood nor dared to enter
Till a face shone by the flickering glare
Seemed to invite the maid to enter
'Twas Orwin and who else
Could show a face to female fancy dearer
Where struggling valour appeared to glow
By pensive sadness rendered fairer
Amazed she stood, till Urwin's eye
Chanced on the lonely blushing stranger
In mingled terror and surprise
To him each face seemed fraugh with danger
Starting he seized his two edged sword
Yet paused to beauty's soveriegn power
And such light as did the place afford
Gave light to love in danger's hour
"Whence" he cried "fair fearless maid
Come you now so unexpected
By chance alone has't thou strayed
Or hast disguise thy course directed
"O Pardon" cried the trembling fair
"A foolish maid", whose steps unguided had by curiosity to dare
What caution and prudence "would have chided"
My father lands the woods of Ross
In me behold his only daughter
Where it your days you choose to pass
You'll meet a friend who will not falter
"One instant now dear lovely maid
Let be request, which, if denied me
To quick destruction soon betrayed
A dungeon gloom till death will take him
For O In me you see the man
Who last opposed proud Cromwell's power
My armies slain, my glories gone
A fugitive within this tower
Thy father is on Cromwell's side
My life is gone if once discovered
'Tis now in time since chance did guide
Thee to Orwin's cover
"Orwin" exclaimed the smiling maid
Her glistening eyes in gladness beaming
And art thou he so fierce in war
So terrible in red fields streaming
When warriors filled my father's hall
Oft have I heard that name repeated
Whereon thy foes oft extol
The fame as such thy deeds related
There lives one, a brother too
Whose grateful heart will love thee ever
SInce saved in battle's rage by you
Where foemen's spears did round him quiver
Dost thou forget that fateful day
You stood to save Lough Ougthers Castle
When Cromwell's armies in array
Along the shores did thundering rattle
Before O'Neill where Briton's fled
Foremost you pursued with slaughter
A dying foe you homeward led
Borne by you through the water
That foe who did you kndness share
And owes his life is my fond brother
Come then to Ross and meet him there
Nor thy name be known to other
She wiged in vain then bade adiew
Resolved next evening to return
While confidence on both side grew
And more than friend ship's flame did burn
The boat again with evening came
Well stored with all the place required
The sparkling faggots bright did flame
While all sat round the blazing fire
The dinner laid, the cheerful wine
Restored once more the Chieftain's spirit
And once again did sprightly shine
Each innate charm he did inherit
That ample heart, by fortune's frown
Contracted, now again expanded
That noble soul long blending down
Burst forth with native graces blended
Again he touched the sounding string
In tender strains of magic sweetness
They sand the songs of Erin's Kings
And deep deplored her fallen greatness
They sand of sorrows all his own
His luckless wars his toils and danger
His friends all fallen, he alone left alone, alone, a stranger
He ceased and found the maid in tears
Deeply she felt his plaintive story
And tender pity for his care
Burst forth in silent oratory
While there they sat the ardent page
Of each alternate fondly stolen
More firmly laid the struggling flame
That deep in either heart had fallen
The unfelt hours stole swiftly by
Reluctantly again they parted
Sweet was the language of the eye
Which modesty but half averted
And from that time when chance was kind
They oft enjoyed the stolen hours
Till Orwin once his care resigned
To rove within her father's bowers
And here they sat and vowed eternal truth
And every solemn promise plighted
That till the latest day of both
Their fates henceforth should be united
The dew fell fast the air was chill
The rising wind, the dark woods shrouded
Black night hung low on every hill
The noisy waves the rocks resounded
The happy hours unfelt had passed
And late it was when both returned
The morn gained the mainland waste
The sinking stars but faintly burned
Sad Orwin sought the dreary isle
Sebana gained her silent chamber
Alternate wept and sighed and smiled
As she each recent scene remembered
She sought her bed to soothe her mind
Cold, pallid, trembling and exhausted
Whereby a fever low confined
Long dreary days and nights she wasted
In vain sad Orwin's on the shore
In wild impatience sadly straying
Many a wistful look cast o'er
The evening shades around him playing
Hours, days and weeks slow passed away
No bounding boat came o'er the waters
More wrecked each succeeding day
Then fickle and inconstant thought her
Again of every hope bereft
Each grief returned with keener anguish
One pang wakes many
Careless of life he wildly roved
His senses fled his vigour wasted
And scarcely talked of her he loved
And raved of joy too quickly blasted
At length death's kind hand set free
That soul long plunged in hopeless sorrow
Bleached in the passing gale he lay
The victim of misfortune's arrow
Nor know Sebana half her woe
To hope, to health and strength recovered
Now sought the shore at evening's close
To meet again her long lost lover
Night fell and darkness closed each vale
The soft moon on the waters beaming
That lightly ruffled to the gate
In silvery sparkles brightly beaming
Lonely she wandered on the shore
And sand those songs that Orwin taught her
And many a lingering look cast o'er
Across the lonely waster of water
At length so moving o'er the strand
Came Orwin and stood close beside her
But, oh! nor spoke nor took her hand
Nor even sought by looks to chide her
He hung his head, half turned his face
Nor sighed nor broke the fearful silence
Unusual fear her soul oppressed
While down her cheek the cold sweat glide
She saw his face 'twas wild and pale
His hollow eyes were sunk and glazing
his uncombined locks flee to the gale
And blue the lips once sweetly pleasing
"Ah! Speak" she cried I faint in fear
O! why so changed, so sad so gloomy
Say can'st thou doubt a heart so dear
Alas methought you better knew me
"Beloved Sebana" he softly said
Calm thy sad heart in patience hear me
Love bids me hope dear faithful maid
That e'en in death you no fear me
For O of earth no more I breathe
Cold lies my corpse in yonder bower
For thee I burst the bonds of earth
To meet thee at the silent hour
For thee I died, ans till for thee
My bosom fells its former fire
E'en now from human frailties free
Love yet survives though life expires
Then cheer my soul and be not sad
My wakeful care shall watch thee ever
Till thou be mingled with the dead
Then, then in bliss no more we sever
And one last favour let me ask
And O forgive the fond desire
Which kind hope say the lonely task
Who will not deem so much required
To lay my corpse with the earth
In that loved sport where first you told me
Your heart was mine which gave hope birth
That e'en in death's last pang console me
There let me rest in peaceful death
By all but thee unknown
Unheeded and lost alike to glory's breath
From honour, rank, and fame degraded
And when the bloom of early Spring
Refresh my grave with genial showers
The grateful offerings wilt thou bring
And strew my clay cold bed with flowers
And then e'er long you will be laid
And there will meet the lovers
On our grave their vows be paid
And shed their tears our cold bed over
Assisted by her faithful page
His wish fulfilled his grave is covered
Short she withstood keen sorrows rage
Small time survived her sleeping lover
Her days were few upon the hill
And many those who knew deplored them
Now both one lonely grave do fill
Each rolling year blooms flowers o'er them
And oftime in the dead of night
Is seen the proud Black baron's daughter
By the side of Orwin gliding bright
And roaming o'er Lough Sheelin's water

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Róisín Hynes

Sliocht sleachta ar shliocht bhur sleachta.