Sir, – Rudyard Kipling's poem My Boy Jack, written after the loss of his son, John, a hundred years ago in the Battle of Loos (Frank McNally, "An Irishman's Diary", September 26th) was set to music by several composers.
These included Ina Boyle from Enniskerry, who was a prolific composer of songs, orchestral and choral music.
The manuscript of her song, which she wrote in December 1916, has recently been typeset and the song will be given its first public performance in 2016.
The most popular setting of the poem was by Edward German, best known for his stage music. He composed it in 1917 and it was recorded by the contralto Clara Butt. – Yours, etc,
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Dr ITA BEAUSANG,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.