Patrick "Paddy" Heeney (October 19, 1881 – June 1911) was an Irish composer whose most famous work is the music to the Irish national anthem Amhrán na bhFiann (The Soldier's Song).

Heeney was born in Dublin.^[1] The Soldier's Song is generally believed to have been composed in 1907, though, in later years, the lyricist Peadar Kearney put the date at 1909 or 1910.^[2] The English lyrics were the work of Kearney who was a prominent member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and had been Heeney's musical collaborator since 1903. The unusual metre of Kearney's lyrics to The Soldier's Song initially gave Heeney considerable trouble in his attempt to fit music to them. Other collaborations between Heeney and Kearney include Michael Dwyer.^[3]

Heeney died in poverty aged 29 in Jervis Street Hospital, Dublin . He was buried in an unmarked grave in Drumcondra Cemetery, where a plaque on the wall now commemorates him. Peadar Kearney was in London with the Abbey Company at the time of Heeney's death. He took up a collection for his deceased friend’s mother. Among the contributors were Michael Collins and Sam Maguire. ^[4]

Peadar Kearney dedicated his song Slán Libh to Paddy Heeney.^[4]

[edit] References