Ó Máille, Tomás (1880–1938), an Irish scholar and professor of Irish at University College Galway , was born 30 March 1880 in Muintir Eoin near Leenaun, Co. Galway.
He was the first professor of Irish at University College Galway from 1909 until his death in 1938
Ó Máille’s Work
Tomás Ó Máille was committed to the Irish language and luckily for us , he was also interested in the newest technology of his day — audio recording.
Focusing on folklore, song, and various dialects, he created hundreds of recordings of Irish speakers from every county in Connacht and from Clare. He also assisted the recording work of other collectors and scholars including Wilhelm Doegen, head of the Sound Department at the Prussian State Library in Berlin.
Nearly 100 years after they were first captured, wax cylinder recordings held in the University of Galway Library were digitised and amongst them were recordings of Leitrim people, which give us an insight into the state of the Irish language in Leitrim from 100 years ago as well as a few songs and stories.
Anna Bean Mhic Fhithcheallaigh [Anna Feely]
née Nancy Brian Rua Nic Giolla Ruaidh [Gilroy], An Crompán, Glenade, Co. Leitrim recorded at University College Galway on 13 September 1930.
According to the information recorded on the Doegen speaker questionnaire in September 1930, Anna Feely was born at Clocheach (recte Cloichreach ?), Glenade, 85–90 years earlier. Her father was a farmer from Clocheach and her mother came from Learga na bhFeadóg. In response to questions, the speaker stated that she spent all her life in Glenade. She did not attend school. She gave no occupation. Irish was her mother language, and she could also speak English. She could not read or write.
Here Mary Staunton sings Anna Feely’s version of An Binsín Luachra (A Chailín Deas na Luachra)
Irish Language in Leitrim
In 1911, Ó Máille transcribed Irish from other Leitrim people – one of them was Micheál MacPháidín from Drumkeerin. By 1930 the number of Irish speakers in the county was in decline.
Ballinamore’s Seán O Súilleabháin speaks about the language we speak in Leitrim and the erosion of the Irish language in the county.
