Sarah Curran

Sarah Curran by George Romney

Sarah Curran (1782 – May 5, 1808) was the youngest daughter of John Philpot Curran, an eminent Irish lawyer. She lived in the priory in Rathfarnham and was the great love of Irish nationalist Robert Emmet.^[1]

Biography

Curran met Robert through her brother Richard, a fellow student of Emmet's at Trinity College in Dublin.^[2] Sarah's father considered Robert unsuitable, and their courtship was conducted through letters and clandestine meetings. Notable is Robert's letter to Sarah. Robert and Sarah were secretly engaged in 1803. ^[1] When her father discovered that Sarah was engaged, he disowned her and then treated her so harshly that she had to take refuge with friends in Cork, where she met and married Robert Sturgeon in November 1805. The two had a child which died in infancy; Sarah died of consumption and was buried in the birthplace of her father at Newmarket, County Cork.^[1]

Recognition

The road leading past St. Enda's Park is called Sarah Curran Avenue. Irish poet Thomas Moore was inspired by her story to write the popular ballads, "She is far from the land" and "Oh breathe not his name!"^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Robert Emmet". LIBRARYIRELAND. 2010. http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/RobertEmmet.php. Retrieved 5 October 7, 2010. 
2. ^ "Robert Emmet". The Robert Emmet Society. 2010. http://www.emmetsociety.org/DaneSchmidt.htm. Retrieved 7 October 2010. 
3. ^ "Robert Emmet & Sarah Curran". Robert Emmet.ORG. 2010. http://www.robertemmet.org/Curran/. Retrieved 7 October 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Curran, Sarah
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1782
Place of birth
Date of death	May 5, 1808
Place of death