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by Patricia Moloney, Cataloguer, Ó Súilleabháin Collection
Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh (1884–1960)
A significant portion of the Dónal Ó Súilleabháin Collection consists of material (both books and archival material) which was once in the ownership of Prof. Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh (1884—1960). He was born in Kinsale, Co. Cork and his father was a shoemaker. His mother and her five sisters had all trained as teachers, following in the tradition of their parents who were teachers also.
Education and the Irish language
Upon completion of his secondary school education in St. Colman’s College, Fermoy (1895–97) and Rockwell College (1897—1901), Ó Cadhlaigh began to study the Irish language for the first time. A cousin of his, Fionán Mac Coluim (1875—1966), recommended that he visit the Blasket islands about this time. By 1905 he had gained his Irish language teaching qualification from Coláiste na Mumhan and he had secured a teaching position in St Joseph’s College, Garbally, near Ballinasloe.
Teaching
Following a period working as a travelling teacher (timire) for Conradh na Gaeilge in Co. Clare in 1907, he began work in St. Colman’s College, Fermoy. He taught Irish and French mostly but also Spanish and Commerce. It was while working at this school in 1909 that Ó Cadhlaigh, together with Tomás Mac Donnchadha (1878—1916) and Pádraig Ó Cinnéide, founded the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI).
Early works
Ó Cadhlaigh embarked on a study of the collection of Irish language manuscripts held by the library in St. Colman’s College. In 1909 he published a version of ‘Parliament na mBan’ from this manuscript collection in An Lóchrann; Eachtra Chondla Mhic Chuinn Chéadchathaigh (1911) and Ceisneamh Inghine Ghoil Átha Lóigh in 1912–13. His interest in Irish language grammar and syntax is evident from his early publications Ceart na Gaedhilge (1922) followed a year later by Slighe an eólais. From 1923 to 1930 he worked as an assistant in the Irish department and in the library of University College Cork and he began work as a lecturer there in 1930. He spent a period as editor of An Lóchrann from 1930—31 and in July 1932 he was appointed Professor of Modern Irish in University College Dublin succeeding Douglas Hyde in that position.
Scrapbook 1943
Regarding the Irish language revival, he was deeply involved from the early days, in particular with regard to the position of the Irish language within the educational system. He threw himself into the work and compiled scrapbooks of press cuttings, documenting in detail, the ongoing discussions and debates regarding the status of the Irish language. The scrapbook featured here with the handwritten title ‘An Glór, Cúrsaí Ollscoile 1943’ on the cover, contains press cuttings from the following newspapers: An Glór; Indiu; Sunday Independent; Irish Press; Sunday Observer; The Kerryman; The Leader; The Evening Mail and The Evening Herald accompanied by his manuscript notes.
In addition, discussion documents concerning current debates with regard to the status of the Irish language in the universities at the time, are included. More details are available from the catalogue entry here.
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scríofa ag Patricia Moloney, Catalógaí, Bhailiúcháin Uí Shúilleabhain
Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh (1884–1960)
Mar chuid de Bhailiúcháin Uí Shúilleabháin, tá roinnt mhaith ábhar ann (idir leabhair agus cáipéisí éagsúla) a bhí ina sheilbh uair amháin ag an tOllamh Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh (1884–1960). I gCionn tSáile, Co. Chorcaí, a rugadh Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh ar 26ú Aibreán 1884. Bhí a mháthair agus na cúigear deirfiúracha a bhí aici oilte mar mhúinteoirí scoile agus á dtuismitheoirí ina múinteoirí rompu.
Oideachas
Tar éis na meánscolaíochta i Mainistir Fhear Maí (1895–97) agus i gCarraig an Tobair (1897–1901), a thosaigh Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh ag foghlaim na Gaeilge ar dtús. Mhol colceathrar leis, Fionán Mac Coluim (1875–1966) dó dul chun an Bhlascaoid timpeall na hama sin agus faoi 1905 bhí lánteastas múinteora Gaeilge bainte amach aige i gColáiste na Mumhan agus post faighte aige i gColáiste Sheosaimh i mBéal Átha na Sluaighe.
Múinteoireacht
Tar éis tamaill ag obair mar thimire do Chonradh na Gaeilge i gContae an Chláir sa bhliain 1907, fuair sé post i gColáiste Cholmáin i Mainistir Fhear Maí. Ag múineadh na Gaeilge agus na Fraincise go formhór a bhí sé, in éineacht le Spáinnis agus tráchtáil ó am go ham. Sa scoil seo, sa bhliain 1909, a bhunaigh Cormac Ó Cadhlaigh, Tomás Mac Donnchadha (1878–1916) agus Pádraig Ó Cinnéide an ceardchumann Cumann na Meánmhúinteoirí (ASTI).
Saothair luatha
Bhí bailiúchán lámhscríbhinní i seilbh na leabharlainne i gColáiste Cholmáin agus thosaigh Ó Cadhlaigh ag déanamh staidear orthu. Chuir sé an leagan de “Parliament na mBan” ann i gcló ins An Lóchrann in 1909; Eachtra Chondla Mhic Chuinn Chéadchathaigh (1911) agus Ceisneamh Inghine Ghoil Átha Lóigh in 1912–13. Bhí suim aige i gcursaí gramadaí agus foilsíodh Ceart na Gaedhilge (1922) agus Slighe an eólais an bhliain dár gcionn. Ó 1923 go 1930 bhí sé ina chúntóir i Roinn na Gaeilge agus sa leabharlann i gColáiste Ollscoile Chorcaí agus é ina leáchtoir ann in ó 1930. Bhí sé ina eagarthóir ar An Lóchrann in 1930—31 agus ceapadh ina chomharba ar an Craoibhín é mar Ollamh le Nua-Ghaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath in Iúil 1932.
Leabhair gearrthóga 1943
Maidir le hathbheochan na Gaeilge, bhí sé sáite ón tús, go háirithe i dtaobh an córas oideachais. Chaith sé a dhúthracht leis an obair agus bhailigh sé leabhair gearrthóga agus neart eolais iontu mar gheall ar na diospoireachtaí a bhíodh ar siúl faoi stádas na Gaeilge sa chéad leath den fhichiú haois. Sa leabhar gearrthóg seo agus “An Glór, Cúrsaí Ollscoile 1943” scríofa ar an gclúdach, tá ar fáil gearrthóga óna na nuachtáin seo a leanas: An Glór; Indiu; Sunday Independent; Irish Press; Sunday Observer; The Kerryman; The Leader; The Evening Mail agus The Evening Herald in éineacht le nótaí scríofa aige.
Freisin tá plécháipéisí agus na moltaí a bhí á bplé faoi stádas na Gaeilge sna ollscoileanna ag an am, san áireamh ann. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoi ar fáil ar an gcatalóg anseo.
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