Who was Roddy McCor? I have heard of him in a folk song.?

Question

The Kingston Trio sang a song about Roddy McCor dying from hanging, but they make him out to be a hero. Nonetheless, I have no idea of his historical place.

Answer 1

Roddy _McCorley_.

"Roddy McCorley (Irish: Rodai Mhic Corlaí) also known as Roadi Mac Corlai (d. March 22, 1799) was a famous participant in the Irish Rebellion of 1798."

"A well-known ballad about him, called simply "Roddy McCorley", was written by Ethna Carbery (1866–1902). It was popularised (or repopularised) by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, The Dubliners, The Kingston Trio and others during the folk music revival of the 1960's."

"Roddy McCorley" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_McCorley

Answer 2

He is a fictional character in the way he is depicted in this son, however, what he represents is the real man from the late-1700s Irish revolt agains the British (failed). He is the symbol of Irish resistance against British domination and oppression.

Of course once the Irish came to the USA they weren't treated a whole lot better than they were in Ireland, therefore, he becomes a symbol of the oppressed immigrant to the USA, poverty, yet also the symbol of noble intelligence, hard work, and high morality in spite of how he and his people are treated.