Peadar Kearney was an Irish republican and composer of numerous rebel songs. In 1907 he wrote the lyrics to "A Soldier's Song", now the Irish national anthem. He was the uncle of Irish writers Brendan Behan, Brian Behan, and Dominic Behan.
Kearney in 1912
The gravestone of Thomas Ashe, Peadar Kearney and Piaras Béaslaí at Glasnevin Cemetery.
"Amhrán na bhFiann", called "The Soldier's Song" in English, is the national anthem of Ireland. The music was composed by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney, the original English lyrics by Kearney, and the Irish-language translation, now usually the version heard, by Liam Ó Rinn. The song has three verses, but only the choral refrain is used as the national anthem.
English lyrics sheet, c. 1916