Margaret Dobbs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Dobbs
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| Born |
Margaret Emmeline Conway Dobbs
19 November 1871 |
| Died | 2 January 1962 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | writer, scholar |
Margaret Emmeline Dobbs (born November 19, 1871 – died January 2, 1962) was an important Irish scholar and writer. She is best known for her hard work to help keep the Irish language alive.
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Who Was Margaret Dobbs?
Margaret Dobbs was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 19, 1871. She was the fourth child of Conway Edward Dobbs and Sara Mulholland. Her father was a Justice of the Peace, which is like a local judge. He also held important roles in local government.
Early Life and Family
Margaret's family lived in Dublin for some time. She tried to learn Irish there. After her father passed away in 1898, her mother moved the family back to Glenariff. Margaret's mother, Sarah Mulholland, came from County Down.
Learning the Irish Language
Margaret was very keen on learning the Irish language. She found it easier to learn in Donegal, where many people still spoke it. Her first teacher was Hugh Flaitile. She even attended the Irish College at Cloughaneely. This was a special school in an area where Irish was the main language.
Margaret then brought her passion for the language back to the Glens of Antrim. She shared her ideas with her friends. Margaret Dobbs was one of the few Protestant women who were very interested in the Gaelic revival. This was a movement to bring back Irish language and culture.
Helping the Gaelic Revival
In 1904, a big cultural event called the "Great Feis" happened in Antrim. Margaret Dobbs was a founding member of the Feis na nGleann committee. A "Feis" is a festival that celebrates Irish culture, music, and language. She worked tirelessly as the literary secretary for the committee.
In 1946, the Feis committee decided to honor her. They gave her a special award. This award can still be seen today at Portnagolan House. It has beautiful stained glass windows that remember this great Irishwoman. During her speech, Margaret said something important. She said that Ireland is like a "closed book" if you don't know its language. She believed that to truly know and love Ireland, you must learn its language.
Her Writings and Studies
Margaret Dobbs wrote seven plays. They were published in 1920. However, only three of her plays were actually performed. One of her plays, The Doctor and Mrs McAuley, won an award in 1913. After 1920, she stopped writing plays.
But Margaret continued her work in other areas. She focused on historical and archaeological studies. Her articles were published in several important magazines. These included the Ulster Journal of Archaeology and a German magazine for Celtic studies. She also wrote for the French Revue Cletique and the Irish magazine Eriu.
Supporting Irish Culture
Margaret Dobbs was a good friend of Roger Casement. He was a famous Irish human rights activist. Even though Margaret did not often share her political views, she helped pay for his legal defense. This was when he was accused of a serious crime.
Margaret was also a member of the Gaelic League. This group worked to promote the Irish language and culture. She was also part of the executive committee of Cumann na mBan. This was an Irish women's organization. It supported Irish nationalism and independence.
Later Life
Margaret Dobbs passed away at her home, Portnagolan House, in Cushendall. She died on January 2, 1962.
