Barra Ó Donnabháin facts for kids
Barra Ó Donnabháin (1941–2003) was an important writer and teacher. He wrote a weekly newspaper column in the Irish language. He also taught Irish and helped people learn about Irish culture. Barra was born in West Cork, Ireland. He moved to the United States in 1963. There, he worked as a software engineer.
Barra Ó Donnabháin: Writer and Teacher
Barra Ó Donnabháin was a regular writer for the New York Irish Echo newspaper. His weekly column was called Macalla. He wrote it entirely in the Irish language. In his column, he shared stories about Irish people and their language. He wrote about them both in Ireland and in the United States.
A collection of his best articles was later put into a book. It was called Súil Siar: Cnuasach Aistí le Barra Ó Donnabháin. This book came out in 2008. Barra also wrote for other publications. These included Treoir magazine and the newspapers Foinse and Saol.
He also shared his writing on the radio. Each week, he would read his Irish language column. This was part of the Míle Fáilte radio show on WFUV. Besides writing, Barra was a dedicated teacher. He taught Irish language classes on weekends. These classes were organized by a group called Daltaí na Gaeilge.
Honoring Barra Ó Donnabháin's Legacy
Barra Ó Donnabháin made a big difference for the Irish language community. To remember his work, a special event was started. In 2006, New York University began the Annual Barra Ó Donnabháin Lecture. This lecture series honors his memory. It also celebrates his important contributions.
The first lecture was given in 2006 by Professor Tomás Ó hÍde. Many other famous speakers have given lectures since then. These speakers include writers, professors, and even politicians. They all share a connection to the Irish language and culture.
