Mícheál Ó Cléirigh facts for kids

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh (around 1590–1643), also known as Michael O'Clery, was a very important Irish historian and writer. He was the main author of a huge history book called the Annals of the Four Masters. This book tells the story of Ireland from ancient times up to the 1600s. Mícheál was part of a famous family of writers and scholars. He worked with other experts to put together the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland (which is what Annals of the Four Masters means) in County Leitrim in 1636. He also wrote another important book called the Martyrology of Donegal.

Signature page from the Annals of the Four Masters. Ó Cléirigh's signature is first in the list

Early Life and Education

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh was born in Kilbarron, near Creevy, in Donegal. His grandfather, Tuathal Ó Cléirigh, was a leader of the Uí Chléirigh family group in Donegal. Mícheál was actually named Tadhg Ó Cléirigh when he was born. People sometimes called him Tadhg an tSléibhe, which means "Tadhg of the mountain."

He was the youngest of four sons. His older brothers were Uilliam, Conaire, and Maolmhuire. Conaire also helped with the Annals as a scribe. Maolmhuire became a Franciscan friar in a place called Louvain. Tadhg later became a Franciscan friar too, and that's when he changed his name to Mícheál. He never became a priest.

Because he came from a family of learned people in Ireland, Mícheál got a great education. He learned from important teachers like Baothgalach Mac Aodhagáin, who later became a bishop. After a big event called the Flight of the Earls, Mícheál followed his brother Maolmhuire to Europe. He might have been a soldier in Spain for a short time before he joined the Franciscan order.

Becoming a Scholar

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh was already known as a history expert when he joined the Irish College of St Anthony in Louvain. In 1624, a man named Aedh Buidh Mac-An-Bhaird, who was also a famous Irish historian, encouraged Mícheál to start collecting old Irish writings.

Mícheál returned to Ireland in 1626. For over ten years, he worked from a Franciscan house near the River Drowes, on the border of Donegal and Leitrim. He traveled all over Ireland, finding and copying many old Irish texts. At first, he focused on religious writings, especially stories about saints. But by 1631, he and his helpers started copying other important historical texts.

The Annals of the Four Masters

In 1632, Mícheál and his team began to put together the biggest collection of Irish history ever made. This huge project took four years to finish. The result was the Annála Ríoghachta Éireann, which we now call the Annals of the Four Masters.

The "four masters" were Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, Cú Choigcríche Ó Cléirigh, Fearfeasa Ó Maol Chonaire, and Peregrine Ó Duibhgeannain. Other people also helped a lot, including Mícheál's brother, Conaire. The work was finished in August 1636. Two copies of the Annals were made.

Mícheál was also interested in Irish words and their meanings. He created a well-known dictionary called Foclóir nó Sanasán Nua (A New Vocabulary or Glossary). This book was printed in 1643, during his lifetime. It is often called Michael O’Clery's Glossary today. These books are very helpful for understanding old Irish words and history.

Other important books he copied or put together include:

• Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib (a story about battles with Vikings)
• Réim Ríoghraidhe (a book about royal family trees)
• Leabhar Gabhála (the Book of Invasions)
• His Martyrologium of Irish saints, which was based on older writings.

The 1944–1968 1/2d stamp depicting Ó Cléirigh

Later Life and Impact

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh went back to Europe in early 1637. The only book of his that was published while he was alive was his dictionary in 1643. We don't know the exact date he died, but it's believed he passed away in Louvain in 1643.

Mícheál Ó Cléirigh is remembered as a very important figure in Irish history.

• He appears as a character in a novel called An Cléireach by Darach Ó Scolaí.
• In 1944, the Irish postal service, An Post, released two stamps to celebrate 300 years since his death.
• The Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute at University College Dublin is named after him. It's a place where people study Irish history and culture.
• In 1942, a school in Creevy, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, was reopened and named the Brother Mícheál Ó Cleirigh National School. This school is for primary-aged children and is in the area where he was born.

See also

• Tadhg Og Ó Cianáin
• James Ussher
• Sir James Ware
• Mary Bonaventure Browne
• Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh
• Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh
• Uilliam Ó Duinnín
• Charles O'Conor (historian)
• Eugene O'Curry