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Merryman died suddenly one morning on Clare Street, Limerick, is substantially borne out. It might well be that the poet had a sudden seizure out of doors and was carried home, to die after a few hours, as stated in the obituary notices quoted. As fate would have it, the "Limerick Chronicle" of the day, which might be expected to give further details, is nowhere available, as far as I can trace.
1. Dictionary of National Biography, London, 1894 cé naċ cruinn a ṫuigim cad é an call atá ag Gallaiḃ ċum Brian Merriman, Gaeḋal do ṡaoṫruiġ i nGaeḋilg in Éirinn, aċt an oiread díreaċ is do ḃeaḋ aca ċum Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Spáinneaċ do ṡaoṫruiġ i Spáinnis isan Spáinn.
2. Cúirt an Ṁeaḋon Oiḋċe, línte 959, 962, 980, 990, 993, 994, 1010.
3. Catalogue of Irish MSS. in British Museum.
4. MS. 23L31, R.I.A., written by John MacSharry 1792: see page 77 herein. MacSharry's “Mearṁian” is probably a mere fancy word for Merryman.
5. The 1821 Census of Limerick city. Vol. II., fol. 51, goes to show that Brian's daughter, Catherine Merryman, was born in 1795. The entry is as follows:—
| Limerick City, | ||||
| Parish of St. Mary, | ||||
| Mary Street, No. 48. | ||||
| Michael Ryan, | 36, | Tailor | ||
| Catharine, | 26, | wife | ||
| John, | 6, | son, pupil, | ||
| Brien, | under | 1, | son | |
| Patrick, | 20, | apprentice | ||
| Catharine Merryman, | 54, | mother [-in-law][1] | ||
6. See note 5.
7. Extract from Register of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Limerick: "1820—29 Decer. Revd. Mr. Enright bap. Bryan, son to Michael Ryan and Catherine Merryman. Sponsors, John and Mary O'Keeffe."
[This entry was kindly copied for me from the Register by Seósaph Puirséal, Hon. Sec, Limerick Gaelic League].
- ↑ See her daughter's maiden name in note 7.
