Punch, of the London Charivari

7 August 1869

Storage Journals AP 101 P8 1869-71

London: Punch

Hibernia (Ireland) holds a harp, the country’s traditional instrument, while a haughty Britannia (England) looks on. The ballad played is ‘The Harp That Once’, written by the Irish poet Thomas Moore. Its later lines refer to Tara’s hall, the hilltop in County Meath that was once home to the Irish kings. This political cartoon was by the English artist John Tenniel (1820-1914), who worked for Punch for over 50 years. The engraving is by Joseph Swain (1820-1909), or one of his assistants. At the time, Ireland was under English rule.