Spáilpín

A "Spáilpín" or "wandering landless labourer" was an itinerant farm worker in Ireland from the 17th to the early 20th century.

Conditions for such workers were very harsh — these men and women endured hard physical labour, low wages and maltreatment by landowners.

An example in folk tradition of exactly how harsh life for a "Spáilpín" was can be sensed in the song; "An Spáilpín Fánach" a lament of a man who had to become a "Spailpín" because of his family’s eviction. To avoid this terrible life, he joined the French army to fight overseas.

"Spáilpíní" also found comfort and catharsis in the Arts. Many were reputed scholars, musicians and poets. To reflect the misery and hardship in their everyday lives, many of their songs and poems were laments.