Feardorcha Ó Conaill facts for kids

Feardorcha Ó Conaill, also known as Frederick William O'Connell, was an important Irish writer, translator, and priest. He was born on October 22, 1876, and passed away on October 19, 1929. He often used the pen name Conall Cearnach, named after a famous Irish hero from old stories.

Early Life and Education

Feardorcha Ó Conaill was born in a place called Newtown, near Leenaun in County Galway, Ireland. His father, William Morgan O'Connell, was a senior priest in the Church of Ireland, and his mother was Catherine Donnelly.

Leenaun is in an area called the Gaeltacht in Connemara. A Gaeltacht is a place where the Irish language is still spoken every day. Feardorcha's parents were fluent Irish speakers. They taught him the language when he was just six years old. This early start helped him become a great translator later on.

He went to Trinity College, Dublin in 1891. After his studies, he became a priest in 1902.

Career and Contributions

In 1907, Ó Conaill became the main priest, or rector, in a place called Achonry. Later, he got a job teaching Celtic languages and literature at Queen's University, Belfast. Celtic languages include Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic.

Feardorcha Ó Conaill was very good at translating. He translated books and writings both into and out of the Irish language. He also translated from other languages like Arabic, Persian, and Spanish. He is especially known for helping to edit the works of another famous Irish writer, Peadar Ó Laoghaire.

In 1927, he became the assistant director of Radio Éireann, which was Ireland's national radio station.

Family and Later Life

Feardorcha Ó Conaill married Helen Young in 1905. They had three sons together. Sadly, Helen passed away in 1925 after they had moved to Dublin.

He later married Marcella Graham. Feardorcha Ó Conaill died in Dublin in 1929, just a few months after starting his job at Radio Éireann. He was 52 years old.