Ba é a scríobh ‘Oíche chinn an Dá Lá Déag’, dán i dtaobh Oíche na Gaoithe Móire (5-6 Eanáir 1839), dán fada a d’fhan i mbéal na ndaoine go dtí ár n-aimsir féin. Tá cuntas air ag Séamus Ó Casaide in Irish Book Lover, Samhain-Nollaig 1929. B’as an mBroscach i gContae na Gaillimhe dó. Is dóigh go raibh sé ina ábhar sagairt ar feadh tamaill mar is sa Choláiste Doiminiceach in Eiscir, Baile Átha an Rí, a cuireadh oideachas air. Deirtear go raibh idir Laidin agus Ghréigis aige. Bhí sé ina oide i scoil náisiúnta san áit sin ar ball ach d’imigh go Meiriceá ag pointe éigin i ndiaidh 1839. Bhuail scríbhneoir darbh ainm Jeremiah O’Donovan ó Phittsburgh leis agus cuireann seisean síos air in A Brief Account of the Author’s Interview with his Countrymen and of the parts of the Emerald Isle whence they emigrated together with a direct reference to their present location in the land of their adoption, during his travels through various states of the Union in 1851 and 1855, 1864: ‘To omit the name of an Irish gentleman from County Galway of the name of Michael Burke, Esquire, would be an unpardonable sin and show much ingratitude on my side of the question. Mr Burke, if merit and education would be appreciated, is more fit to be President of the United States than to be interrupted in his towering inspirations by juvenile annoyance. He teaches in the Orphan Asylum in Brooklyn which is indisputably a meritorious and laudable vocation. Mr Burke is both a scholar and a poet, and composes in the Irish Language admirably.’ Thapaigh Ó Donnabháin an deis chun stair na hÉireann a bhí scríofa i véarsaíocht aige a thaispeáint don mhúinteoir bocht. Is inspéise mar shampla dá Bhéarla an nóta molta a scríobh an Búrcach: ‘The bearer, Mr Jeremiah O’Donovan, called upon and introduced himself to me as the person so highly recommended by Mr Dever. I took the opportunity, amidst the hurry of my calling, to read some passages of his work; I feel satisfied that the Poem, independent of its historical facts, breaths through it the noscitur poeta. Could I recommend my countrymen en masse, I would say to them all, come on, patronize and buy, you shall be amply compensated, and struggling genius in some measure rewarded for its toil and patriotism. Michael Burke, Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, Brooklyn. P.S. I bought one copy of the Epic Poem.’ D’éag sé i mBrooklyn 6 Iúil 1881.

Diarmuid Breathnach

Máire Ní Mhurchú