Theophilus O'Flanagan facts for kids

Theophilus O’Flanagan (pronounced Tee-OFF-ih-luss Oh-FLAN-uh-gan) was an important Irish scholar. He was a school teacher and loved the Irish language. He worked to translate old Irish writings. He also helped start groups that promoted the Irish language. He lived from about 1762 to 1814.

Early Life and Education

Theophilus O’Flanagan was born around 1762. This was in a place called Tulla in County Clare, Ireland. His father was a "hedge schoolteacher." These teachers taught Irish language and other subjects outdoors or in secret places. This was because it was hard for Irish Catholics to get an education back then.

Theophilus was Catholic, like his father. He went to Trinity College Dublin, which was a big university. In 1787, he earned a special scholarship. This scholarship helped him pay for his studies. He got help from a person named John Hely-Hutchinson.

A Teacher's Life

After his studies, O'Flanagan became a traveling school teacher. He set up schools in different towns. One school was in Carrick on Suir. Later, in 1808, he opened another school in Dublin. This one was on Ormond Quay.

Promoting the Irish Language

Theophilus O’Flanagan cared deeply about the Irish language. On January 19, 1807, he helped create a group called the Gaelic Society of Dublin. He started this group with two other people, Richard MacElligott and Patrick Lynch.

The main goal of the Gaelic Society was to promote and study the Irish language. O'Flanagan was the first secretary of this new group. Even though the Gaelic Society did not last very long, it was very important. It was one of the first groups to work for the Irish language. Many other groups followed, leading to the Gaelic League in 1892. The Gaelic League became a very big and important organization for the Irish language.

Theophilus O’Flanagan passed away in 1814.

Works

Theophilus O’Flanagan worked on several important books and translations:

• Translation of the Annals of Innisfallen by Theophilus O'Flanagan. (The "Annals" are like old history books or records.)
• Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Dublin, edited by Theophilus O'Flanagan AB, Published by John Barlow Dublin (1808).
• 'Deirdri, Or the Lamentable Fate of the Sons of Usnach, an Ancient Dramatic Irish Tale, One of the Three Tragic Stories of Eirin:', translation, notes, and observations, by Theophilus O'Flanagan AB, Published by John Barlow Dublin (1808). This story was also printed in the Transactions.