Ellen Cahill (1863 – 1934) was a notable early 20th-century

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

street artist known more affectionately as "Killarney Kate".

Early life and education

Ellen Cahill was born in 1863 in

Castlecomer Castlecomer (,Castlecomer/Caisleán an Chomair
Placenames Database of Ireland. 'castle at ...

, County Kilkenny, Ireland. She immigrated to

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

with her family in the 1870s, where they ran a hotel on

Lonsdale Street Lonsdale Street is a main street and thoroughfare in the Melbourne central business district, Australia. It runs roughly east–west and was laid out in 1837 as one of Melbourne's original boundaries within the Hoddle Grid. The street ext ...

, Melbourne. Initially trained as a singer in Ireland, Cahill showcased her talent at charity concerts and at the family hotel. Her life took a downward turn following a failed romance and subsequent legal troubles, including theft and public drunkenness. Cahill's life was marked by poverty, and she relied on the charity of the Catholic Church and the local community.

Career

Despite her struggles with alcoholism and a lengthy criminal record, which included multiple convictions for petty crimes, Cahill became a beloved street performer. When not selling matches or the latest rheumatic cures, she often serenaded passersby on trams, in public spaces, and in the pubs for beer. She was a common sight outside the

Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall, often referred to as simply Town Hall, is the administrative seat of the local municipality of the City of Melbourne and the primary offices of the Lord Mayor and city councillors of Melbourne. Located on the northeast co ...

corner, the Argus building in

La Trobe Street La Trobe Street (also Latrobe Street) is a major street and thoroughfare in the Melbourne central business district, Victoria, Australia. It runs roughly east–west and forms the northern boundary of the central business district. The street ...

, or standing in the middle of the tramlines, holding up traffic until she had finished her song, along the

Queen Victoria Market The Queen Victoria Market (also known colloquially as the Vic Market or Queen Vic) is a major landmark and public marketplace in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Covering over , it is the largest open air ...

. She was also known to sing outside the verandah of the Homoeopathic Hospital, to entertain the patients. Her repertoire featured Irish ballads, particularly her namesake song, "Killarney". She viewed herself as a professional singer by trade, despite other opinions that viewed her as a public nuisance and vagrant.

Misdemeanors

By 1923, Cahill had been convicted of upwards of 167 convictions, most commonly drunkenness and vagrancy. She was well known to the local police and magistrates, but generally looked upon with fondness and pity by passersby and tram drivers.

Death and legacy

Ellen Cahill died on 1934 in Melbourne Hospital. Her funeral was attended by over 300 people, and was arranged by a member of the local theatre community to avoid a pauper's grave. It is reported that her favourite song and namesake "Killarney's Lakes and Fells" was hummed at her graveside at Fawkner Cemetery by her well wishers. Her eccentric personality, love for horse racing, colourful language, and cheekiness towards authority made her a memorable figure among Melburnians.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cahill, Ellen Created via preloaddraft Australian singers Singers from Melbourne 1863 births 1934 deaths People from Castlecomer