Peadar Ó Gealacáin facts for kids
Peadar Uí Gealacáin, also known as Peter Galligan (born March 17, 1792 – died February 1860), was an Irish scribe and a hedge school master. A scribe is someone who copies documents by hand. A hedge school was an informal school in Ireland, often held outdoors or in secret, where teachers taught children when formal schooling was not allowed for many Irish people.
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Early Life and Education
Peadar Uí Gealacáin came from a place called Ballymacane in County Meath, Ireland. By 1814, he was already working as a hedge school master. He was very well-educated for his time. He knew Irish, English, and mathematics.
What He Taught
In 1824, his school had about 35 boys and 6 girls. He taught them many important subjects. These included reading, writing, arithmetic (math), and geography. He also taught Catholic catechism, which is religious instruction.
His Work as a Scribe
Peadar Uí Gealacáin was very skilled at writing. He copied many old Irish manuscripts by hand. These manuscripts contained important stories, poems, and historical records. He also collected old Irish songs.
Interests and Writings
Even though he copied old texts, his main interests were in mathematics and general literature. He loved to learn and write about many different topics. He created his own manuscripts between 1823 and 1858. One of his special manuscripts included his family's genealogy, which is a record of his ancestors. He also wrote for almanacs, which were like yearly books with calendars, weather forecasts, and other useful information.
Family Life
Peadar Uí Gealacáin was married to Jane Tennison. They had children, including a daughter named Margaret and a son named Peter. His mother was Margaret Williams, who passed away in 1837. His family members were buried in the graveyard at Munterconnacht. However, they did not have tombstones. Over time, many of his relatives moved away from the area.
