Colm de Bhailís facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colm de Bhailís
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Engraving of Colm de Bhailís from the book "Aṁráın Ċuılm de Ḃaılís" published by Conradh na Gaeilge in 1904.
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| Born |
Colm de Bhailís
2 May 1796 |
| Died | 27 February 1906 (aged 109 years, 301 days) Oughterard, Ireland
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| Known for | Longevity |
| Children | 1 |
Colm de Bhailís was an amazing Irish poet, songwriter, and stonemason. He was born on May 2, 1796, and lived a very long life, passing away on February 27, 1906. He was 109 years old when he died!
The Life of Colm de Bhailís
Colm de Bhailís came from a place called Lettermullen in Connemara, Ireland. He worked as a stonemason, which means he was skilled at cutting and shaping stones for buildings. Because of his work, he traveled a lot around Ireland.
He lived for some time in places like Kilrush, County Clare and Westport, County Mayo. Colm was known for writing many poems and songs. Two of his most famous works were Amhrán a Tae and Cúirt an tSrutháin Bhuí. He wrote at least seventeen poems in total.
In 1901, a British census recorded him living in a poorhouse in Cregg, Oughterard, County Galway. At that time, he was listed as being 105 years old. His last name was sometimes written as Wallace, which was an English version of de Bhailís.
Later, two important Irish figures, Pádraig Pearse and Éamon de Valera, helped him. They arranged for him to move from the poorhouse. He went to live with the O'Toole family on Main Street in Oughterard.
Colm de Bhailís lived there until he was 109 years old. He was just a few months shy of being called a "supercentenarian," which is someone who lives to be 110 or older. He was buried in Kilcummin Old Cemetery in Oughterard.
Family Life
Colm de Bhailís was married twice in his life. Sadly, both of his wives passed away before him. His second wife, Úna, died around the year 1900.
He had one son with his first wife, Siobhán Frainc Ní Lochlainn. His son was named Tomás. Tomás passed away in 1877 when he was twenty-two years old.
