Charles Bunworth

Reverend Charles Bunworth, Church of Ireland rector of Buttevant, County Cork, and harpist, was born early in the 1700s. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, with an M.A. in 1730. He died in 1770.

Bunworth, according to A Compendium of Irish Biography [1] (1878), he

"was distinguished for his patronage and knowledge of Irish music. He was a good harpist, and at the time of his decease, in 1770, possessed fifteen harps, bequeathed to him from time to time by members of the then rapidly dying-out race of minstrels, out of gratitude for his hospitality and care. He examined Curran before going up to college, and gave him assistance towards prosecuting his studies."

 He was a man of unaffected piety, and of sound learning;pure in heart, and benevolent in intention, by the rich he was respected and by the poor beloved.