Michael Banim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Banim
Born	5 August 1796
Died	30 August 1874  (aged 78)
Occupation	Writer

Michael Banim (born August 5, 1796 – died August 30, 1874) was an Irish writer. He was known for his short stories. Michael was the brother of another famous writer, John Banim. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and passed away in Booterstown.

Michael Banim's Early Life and Family

Michael Banim went to Dr. Magrath's Catholic school. After school, he started studying to become a lawyer. However, his father's business faced problems. Michael decided to stop his studies and help his family.

He took over the family business. Michael worked hard and made the business successful again. This brought comfort and peace of mind back to his parents.

Supporting His Brother John

In 1826, Michael visited his brother John in London. There, he met many important writers and thinkers. Michael was very supportive of his brother. When John became ill, Michael invited him to live with him in Kilkenny.

He wrote to John, saying, "As you are my brother, never allude to it again. My creed on this subject is, that one brother should not want while the other can supply him." This shows how generous and caring Michael was. John, however, stayed in France for medical treatment.

Family and Later Years

In 1840, Michael Banim married Catherine O'Dwyer. They had two daughters named Mathilde and Mary. Michael was a successful businessman for a while. Sadly, he lost most of his money when a merchant business failed.

After this, his health began to decline. In 1852, he became the postmaster of Kilkenny. He held this job until 1873, when his health made him retire. Michael also served a term as the mayor of Kilkenny. As his health worsened, he moved with his family to Booterstown, near Dublin. He died there in 1874. His wife received a special pension after his death.

Michael Banim's Writing Career

Around 1822, Michael's brother John had an idea for a series of stories. These stories would be about Irish life and culture. Michael helped John with these stories, which were called the O'Hara Tales. Michael used the pen name "Abel O'Hara" for his contributions.

It can be hard to tell which parts each brother wrote. John was more experienced, but Michael provided many ideas from his observations of society. They often reviewed and edited each other's work.

Key Works and Collaboration

Michael wrote his parts of the stories in his spare time, after his business work. He was the main writer for about 13 of the 24 works credited to both brothers. Some of these include Crohoore of the Bill-Hook, The Croppy, and Father Connell.

Michael Banim was a kind, humble, and very generous person. He often let his younger brother John receive most of the credit for their shared work. After John passed away, Michael continued to write. He wrote Clough Fionn (1852) and The Town of the Cascades (1864). In 1861, he wrote introductions and notes for a new edition of the "O'Hara" novels.

Influences on Their Writing

The Banim brothers wanted to show a true picture of Ireland. At that time, Ireland was still recovering from the effects of the Penal Laws. These laws had limited the rights of many Irish people.

The brothers were also influenced by the Romantic movement. This was a popular style of art and literature at the time. It focused on emotion, nature, and individualism.

See also

• John and Michael Banim bibliography