Irish

This page was updated on 20th of January 2022.

Due to the sheer number of field names recorded by Danny we have developed three pages for readers: Irish Words, Irish Places and Field Names. Thank you for your patience as we add to these pages.

The 1901 Census was the first census taken where people were asked whether they spoke or could write in Irish. The following article appeared in the Munster Express (Waterford) newspaper on the 23rd of March 1901, p. 5.

            “We trust, now that the Census is about to be taken, those with a knowledge of Irish will not be afraid or ashamed to state so when their names and other particulars respecting them go into the official record. It will not be necessary to be a Douglas Hyde or a Father Hickey to state you have a knowledge of Irish, and furthermore they will be giving help in no small way to the Gaelic cause by showing that the old tongue is still alive, and, if not kicking, shouting for recognition.“

Irish language links:

Glenmore and the Irish Language, see, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-and-the-irish-language/

Danny Dowling identified, his late neighbour, Patrick Power, of Jamestown, Glenmore as the last native Irish speaker in the parish. The National Folklore Collection, housed at UCD has the recording of Pádraig de Paor, from Jamestown, Glenmore (archival reference NFC 323: 174-183) who was 85 at the time of the recording. It is available to read online, most of the 9 pages are in Irish, at https://www.duchas.ie/ga/cbe/9000809/7156624

From Danny’s Files: The following article was found in Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) Glenmore files.

“Munster Express, 29 May 1936, NATIVE BORN IRISH SPEAKERS–Few of our readers may be aware that to South Kilkenny belongs the distiction of possessing the only two native-born Irish speakers in the entire county. They are Padraig Power, aged 84, Glenmore, and Kate Dollard, aged 79, Tullogher. Not only to they speak Irish, but their words will be available when they are gone, for followoing their discovery bpylocal National Teachers the Irish Fokllore Commission has made records of their voices. Mrs. Dollard speaks Irish slowly and haltingly; her conversation is largely verses, sayings, prayers and proverbs. Whe Padraig, a well-to-do farmer, broad-shouldered and erect, heard the record of her voice he merely remarked–“She knows none!” and proceed to demonstrrate himself. But his main strength too lies in verses and proverbs, which always linger on the tail-end of a tradition. Their contribution should be a valued acquisition to the Folklore Commission and enthusiasts of the Irish language.”

See generally, Liam Ó Bolguidhir (1992) “The Early Years of the Gaelic League in Kilkenny,” Old Kilkenny Review available at https://kec1916project.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/gaelic-league-c3b3-bolguidhir.pdf

For some of the Irish proverbs collected by Irish scholar John O’Donovan (1806-1861) born in Slieverue parish, see blog post https://glenmore-history.com/john-odonovan-1806-1861-and-genuine-irish-proverbs/.