Vagrant Verses: 'Fast-bound for foreign seas''

Rosa Mulholland was born in Belfast in 1841 although no exact date of her birth is known.

Mulholland originally wished to become a painter but turned to literary pursuits and attempted to publish her first book at 15. Charles Dickens, who took an early interest in her work, did much to encourage and help her during his life time including publishing many of her works in his magazine ‘All the Year Round’.

Her early years in the remote and mountainous west of Ireland helped her gather backdrops...