Patrick O’Sullivan

lochtar Cua

Padraig a' Chasuir or Pádraig a Leathchinn, from lochtar Cua, used to play in the big house in Derrynane during the Councillor's time." He is to be identified with the Derrynane piper, who, Lady Chatterton wrote, 'rejoiced in the name of O'Sullivan with the addition of Coshier, a name given to a particular branch of the O'Sullivans, from which he claimed descent, for a peculiarity in using a sword in battle." The casúr of the patronym was the martel or hammer used in combat. A good piper, he was taught by an uncle who besides being a piper was also a bandmaster. In describing his appearance, while she is silent about the quality of his piping, Lady Chatterton unwittingly throws light on the reason for his; nickname, Padraig a' Leathchinn

A most singular figure he was originally tall and thin, his height is now diminished inconsequence of a fall, the result of which was to incline his head greatly to one shoulder, and his jocose countenance has acquired an air of knowing familiarity characteristic of his profession.

PATRICK O'SULLIVAN

This surname was as numerous in West Cork and Kerry, as the Smiths were in the old German settlenients in Pennsylvania, and equally as insufficient for the purposes of identification without a subtitle or nickname. The writer in his boyhood days at the Bantry National School could enumerate seventeen branches of the Sullivans, as they were commonly called, and the list was by no means complete.

“Paddy O’Sullivan” is referred to by Grattan Flood as “O’Connell’s famous piper,” although “Mickey” Sullivan, Cumbaw of Castlecove, elsewhere sketched, claimed to be hereditary piper to Daniel O’Connell’s family. At any rate he was taught the art of piping by another Sullivan, his uncle and a band master, piper Mr. Sullivan, ”Coshier,” is mentioned by Lady Chatterton in her Rambles in the South of Ireland, in 1839.

More interested in his personal appearance than in his music, she is silent as to the latter, but describes the former in considerable detail, adding that the nick-name “Coshier” was given to a particular branch of the O’Sullivans from which he claimed descent, for a peculiarity in using a sword in battle. “A most singular figure he was; originally tall and thin, his height is now diminished,” she says, “in consequence of a fall, the result of which was to incline his head greatly to one shoulder, and his jocose countenance has acquired an air of knowing familiarity characteristic of his profession.”

Extract from ‘Lady Chatterton rambles in South Ireland’.