Máirtín Ó Cadhain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Máirtín Ó Cadhain
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| Born | 1906 Spiddal, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 18 October 1970 (aged 64) Dublin, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| Resting place | Mount Jerome Cemetery |
| Pen name | Aonghus Óg Breallianmaitharsatuanógcadhanmaolpote D. Ó Gallchobhair Do na Fíréin Micil Ó Moingmheara M.Ó.C |
| Occupation | Novelist, short story writer, journalist, school teacher |
| Language | Irish (Connacht Irish) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Period | 1932–1970 |
| Genre | Fiction, politics, linguistics, experimental prose |
| Subject | Irish Republicanism, modern Irish prose |
| Literary movement | Modernism, social radicalism |
| Notable works | Cré na Cille, An Braon Broghach, Athnuachan |
| Spouse | Máirín Ní Rodaigh |
| Relatives | Seán Ó Cadhain (father), Bríd Nic Conaola (mother) |
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Máirtín Ó Cadhain (1906 – 18 October 1970) was one of the most important Irish language writers of his time. He is best known for his 1949 novel Cré na Cille. Ó Cadhain helped bring new, modern writing styles back into Irish literature.
He was also very involved in politics. He believed in an independent Ireland and in fairness for all people. He was held in a special camp during a time of national emergency because of his political beliefs.
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Máirtín Ó Cadhain: A Life in Writing
Máirtín Ó Cadhain was born in Connemara, a beautiful Irish-speaking area. He first worked as a schoolteacher. However, he lost his job because he was a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This group wanted Ireland to be fully independent.
Early Political Actions
In the 1930s, Ó Cadhain helped recruit people for the IRA. He also took part in a campaign to get land for native Irish speakers. This led to the creation of a new Irish-speaking community called Ráth Cairn in County Meath. Later, he was arrested and held in the Curragh Camp during a period known as the Emergency. This was because of his ongoing involvement with the IRA.
His Beliefs and the Irish Language
Ó Cadhain's political ideas combined Irish independence with a focus on social equality. He also had strong views on the Catholic Church in Ireland. He believed that the Church should do more to support the Irish language revival. He thought it would be better if priests spoke more Irish to their communities.
Writing Style and Impact
As a writer, Ó Cadhain was key in bringing modernist literature back to Irish writing. This style had not been common since 1916. He used the Irish dialects from his home area of Connemara in his writing. Sometimes, his use of specific dialects made his work hard for non-native speakers to understand. He also liked to try out words from other Irish dialects and even Scottish Gaelic.
He wrote many short stories. Some of his collections include Cois Caoláire and An Braon Broghach. He also wrote three novels. Only Cré na Cille was published while he was alive. His other two novels, Athnuachan and Barbed Wire, came out after his death. He also translated a novel from English into Irish.
Ó Cadhain also wrote about politics and the Irish language. He explored the history of Irish nationalism in his book Tone Inné agus Inniu. He also wrote a detailed study of how the Irish language was used in the west of Ireland, called An Ghaeilge Bheo – Destined to Pass.
Later Career and Recognition
In 1956, when he was 50, Ó Cadhain became a lecturer at Trinity College Dublin. This was special because he did not have a university degree. He later became a professor and head of the Irish Department. A lecture hall at Trinity College Dublin is named after him, and there is a bronze statue of him there.
Political Activity and Advocacy
Ó Cadhain's interest in Irish independence grew after he read An Phoblacht. This was a republican newspaper linked to the IRA. He lived with Seosamh Mac Mathúna, an IRA member, who further encouraged his republican beliefs. Mac Mathúna eventually helped Ó Cadhain join the IRA.
Supporting Irish Speakers
In 1932, Ó Cadhain helped start Cumann na Gaedhealtachta (The Gaeltacht Association). This group worked to support people living in Ireland's Irish-speaking areas (Gaeltacht). He also formed a similar group in 1936. One of their successes was creating the Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht. Ó Cadhain believed that Irish speakers needed good land to work to truly succeed.
Challenges and Imprisonment
In 1936, Ó Cadhain was working as a teacher. He was fired by the local Catholic Bishop because of his republican beliefs. These beliefs were seen as "subversive." He then moved to Dublin and became a successful recruiter for the IRA. By 1938, he was part of the IRA's Army Council.
In 1939, he was arrested and imprisoned. He resigned from the Army Council because he disagreed with a plan to attack British targets during World War II. He felt that political freedom for Northern Ireland was not enough without economic freedom for its people.
In 1940, he was arrested again and spent four years in the Curragh Camp. He taught Irish to many other prisoners there. He was released in 1944.
Return to Activism
After his time in the Curragh, Ó Cadhain focused on his writing. For a while, he felt disappointed with Irish republicanism. But by the 1960s, he again supported its goals. When the Troubles began in Northern Ireland, he welcomed resistance to British rule. He also restated his belief that both capitalism and the border needed to go.
In the 1960s, he actively campaigned for the Irish language again with a group called Misneach ("Courage"). They fought against changes that would make Irish language exams optional for students. They also wanted to keep Irish language skills required for public sector jobs. Misneach used peaceful protest methods. Ó Cadhain was also a key figure in the 1969 civil rights movement for Gaeltacht areas.
Personal Life
Máirtín Ó Cadhain passed away on 18 October 1970 in Dublin. He was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.
Works
Novels
- Athnuachan. Coiscéim. Baile Átha Cliath 1995 (published after his death)
- Barbed Wire. Edited by Cathal Ó hÁinle. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 2002 (published after his death)
- Cré na Cille. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1949/1965.
- Translated as The Dirty Dust. Yale Margellos, New Haven 2015; Graveyard Clay. Yale Margellos, New Haven 2016.
Short Story Collections
- An Braon Broghach. An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 1991
- Cois Caoláire. Sáirséal – Ó Marcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 2004
- Idir Shúgradh agus Dáiríre. Oifig an tSoláthair, Baile Átha Cliath 1975
- An tSraith dhá Tógáil. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1970/1981
- An tSraith Tógtha. Sáirséal agus Dill, Baile Átha Cliath 1977
- An tSraith ar Lár. Sáirséal Ó Marcaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 1986
- The Road to Brightcity. Poolbeg Press, Dublin 1981
- Dhá Scéal / Two Stories. Arlen House, Galway 2007
- An Eochair / The Key. Dalkey Archive Press, Dublin 2015
- The Dregs of the Day. Yale University Press, New Haven 2019
Other Writings
- Foclóir Mháirtín Uí Chadhain. (a dictionary he worked on from 1937 to 1946) An Gúm, Baile Átha Cliath 2021
- Caiscín. (articles published in the Irish Times 1953–56. Edited by Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh.) Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1998
- Tone Inné agus Inniu. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 1999
- Ó Cadhain i bhFeasta. Edited by Seán Ó Laighin. Clódhanna Teoranta, Baile Átha Cliath 1990
- An Ghaeilge Bheo – Destined to Pass. Edited by Seán Ó Laighin. Coiscéim, Baile Átha Cliath 2002.
- Caithfear Éisteacht! Aistí Mháirtín Uí Chadhain in Comhar (Máirtín Ó Cadhain's essays published in the monthly magazine Comhar). Edited by Liam Prút. Comhar Teoranta, Baile Átha Cliath 1999
See also
- Pádraic Ó Conaire, an earlier Irish language modernist writer
- Muintir na Gaeltachta, a group Ó Cadhain helped to create
