Máire MacNeill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Máire MacNeill
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| Born | 7 December 1904 County Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 15 May 1987 (aged 82) County Clare Ireland |
| Occupation | Journalist, folklorist, translator |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Period | Modernist |
| Subject | Irish mythology |
| Notable works | The Festival of Lughnasa |
Máire MacNeill (born December 7, 1904 – died May 15, 1987) was an Irish journalist, folklorist, and translator. She is famous for her important book, The Festival of Lughnasa. This book is about an old Irish harvest festival.
Early Life and Education
Máire MacNeill was born in Portmarnock, County Dublin. Her father was Eoin MacNeill, a well-known historian and political figure. Her mother was Agnes Moore. Máire was their second daughter.
Her family later moved into the city. Máire went to Muckross Park school. In 1925, she earned her degree from University College Dublin. She studied Celtic Studies there, which is the study of Celtic languages and cultures.
Career as a Journalist
From 1927 to 1932, Máire worked as a journalist. She also became a sub-editor for The Star newspaper. This newspaper was linked to the Cumann na nGaedheal political party. She also helped her father write his life story.
Work in Folklore
In 1935, a man named Séamus Ó Duilearga invited Máire to work. He asked her to join the new Irish Folklore Commission. This group collected and studied Irish folklore. Máire started as an office manager.
She traveled to Uppsala University in Sweden to learn about folklore research. After her training, she began studying the Lughnasadh festival. This is an ancient Irish harvest festival. She looked at 195 places connected to this festival. One famous place is the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage site. Other sites include Máméan.
Later Life and Legacy
Máire MacNeill left the Folklore Commission in 1949. She moved to Boston in the United States. There, she married a poet named John L. Sweeney.
Her big study on Lughnasa was published in 1962. For this work, she received her doctorate degree. In 1967, she moved back to Ireland. She spent time translating texts from the Irish. Máire died at her home in Corofin, County Clare.
Máire MacNeill also gave two special paintings to the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin. These were cubist paintings by famous artists, Picasso and Juan Gris.
