Clover statue of Thomas Moore

myminifactory

This is a bust of Thomas Moore (1779-1852). Thomas Moore was an acclaimed Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer whose remarkable legacy endures to this day through the timeless lyrics of "The Minstrel Boy" and "The Last Rose of Summer". As Lord Byron's chosen literary executor, along with John Murray, Moore had the solemn responsibility of burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his passing. In his lifetime he was often affectionately referred to as Anacreon Moore. Moore demonstrated an innate passion for music and other performing arts from a remarkably early age. He frequently took to the stage in musical plays alongside his close friends, such as The Poor Soldier by John O'Keeffe (music by William Shield), and at one point harbored ambitions of becoming a skilled actor. Moore attended several esteemed Dublin schools including Samuel Whyte's English Grammar School in Grafton Street where he mastered the distinctive English accent that remained with him for the rest of his life. In 1795, he proudly graduated from Trinity College, which had recently opened its doors to Catholic students as part of an effort to fulfill his mother's cherished dream of his becoming a respected lawyer. Moore initially proved himself to be a diligent student, but later his academic efforts waned significantly. His time at Trinity coincided with the ongoing turmoil that followed the French Revolution, and several of his fellow students such as Robert Emmet were ardent supporters of the United Irishmen movement, although Moore himself never actively participated in this cause. This movement endeavored to secure support from the French government to launch a revolution in Ireland. In 1798, a rebellion broke out followed by a French invasion, neither of which achieved their objectives. Besides Emmet, another pivotal influence on Moore was Edward Hudson, also a fellow student at Trinity College, who played a crucial role in introducing him to Edward Bunting's A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1797), later one of the primary sources for his own collection of Irish Melodies.