Art Mac Cumhaigh
Encyclopedia
Art Mac Cumhaigh was, along with Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna
, Peadar Ó Doirnín
and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta
, among the most celebrated of the south Ulster
and north Leinster
poets in the eighteenth century. As with the latter two he was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song.
It is commonly believed that Mac Cumhaigh was born in Creggan, County Armagh
where a branch of the Uí Néill
had been the traditional patrons of the poets under the old order. However, the most comprehensive research into Mac Cumhaigh life and works(Ó Fiaich, 1973)could only suggest a birthplace on or near the Louth/Armagh border in or near the parish of Creggan. Mac Cumhaigh eked out a living as a spáilpín
, or travelling labourer. Seán Ó Tuama
and Thomas Kinsella
remark about Mac Cumhaigh's most famous poem, Úr-Chill An Chreagáin, that 'in its simple innocence is a more attractive aisling
, perhaps, than some more polished vision-songs by the late eighteenth century Munster poets.' Although in that poem the Stuart Pretender
is not mentioned, nor is hope of foreign help coming to free Ireland, a standard in aisling
poetry, held out.
Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna
-Biography:Along with Peadar Ó Doirnín, Art Mac Cumhaigh and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna one of the four most prominent of the south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries...
, Peadar Ó Doirnín
Peadar Ó Doirnín
-Biography:Ó Doirnín is one of the most celebrated of the Ulster poets in the eighteenth century and along with Art Mac Cumhaigh, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song...
and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta
Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta
Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta was a central figure in the seventeenth and eighteenth century Airgíalla school of poets and songwriters in the Irish language...
, among the most celebrated of the south Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and north Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
poets in the eighteenth century. As with the latter two he was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song.
It is commonly believed that Mac Cumhaigh was born in Creggan, County Armagh
Creggan, County Armagh
Creggan is a small village and townland near Crossmaglen in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 246 people. It lies within the Newry and Mourne District Council area.- Places of interest :...
where a branch of the Uí Néill
Uí Néill
The Uí Néill are Irish and Scottish dynasties who claim descent from Niall Noigiallach , an historical King of Tara who died about 405....
had been the traditional patrons of the poets under the old order. However, the most comprehensive research into Mac Cumhaigh life and works(Ó Fiaich, 1973)could only suggest a birthplace on or near the Louth/Armagh border in or near the parish of Creggan. Mac Cumhaigh eked out a living as a spáilpín
Spáilpín
A Spailpín or Spailpeen or "wandering landless labourer" was an itinerant or seasonal farmworker in Ireland from the 17th to the early 20th century....
, or travelling labourer. Seán Ó Tuama
Seán Ó Tuama
Seán Ó Tuama was an Irish poet, playwright and academic.-Life:Raised in Cork city and educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork, Ó Tuama first came to prominence in 1950 with his anthology of modern Irish language poetry titled Nuabhéarsaíocht 1939-1949.Notable academic...
and Thomas Kinsella
Thomas Kinsella
Thomas Kinsella is an Irish poet, translator, editor, and publisher.-Early life and work:Kinsella was born in Lucan, County Dublin. He spent much of his childhood with relatives in rural Ireland. He was educated in the Irish language at the Model School, Inchicore and the O'Connell Christian...
remark about Mac Cumhaigh's most famous poem, Úr-Chill An Chreagáin, that 'in its simple innocence is a more attractive aisling
Aisling
The aisling , or vision poem, is a poetic genre that developed during the late 17th and 18th centuries in Irish language poetry...
, perhaps, than some more polished vision-songs by the late eighteenth century Munster poets.' Although in that poem the Stuart Pretender
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
is not mentioned, nor is hope of foreign help coming to free Ireland, a standard in aisling
Aisling
The aisling , or vision poem, is a poetic genre that developed during the late 17th and 18th centuries in Irish language poetry...
poetry, held out.
See also
- Piaras FeiritéarPiaras FeiritéarPiaras Feiritéar was an Irish poet.Feiritéar was a Norman-Irish lord of Baile an Fheirtéaraigh in Corca Dhuibhne. Although best known as a poet, it was his role as a leader of the nascent Catholic Irish community of Norman- and Gaelic- Irish origin which ultimately lead to his execution in...
- Dáibhí Ó BruadairDáibhí Ó BruadairDáibhí Ó Bruadair was one of the most significant Irish language poets of the 17th century. He lived through a momentous time in Irish history and his work serves as testimony to the death of the old Irish cultural and political order and the decline in respect for the once honoured and feared...
- Cathal Buí Mac Giolla GhunnaCathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna-Biography:Along with Peadar Ó Doirnín, Art Mac Cumhaigh and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna one of the four most prominent of the south Ulster and north Leinster poets in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries...
- Peadar Ó DoirnínPeadar Ó Doirnín-Biography:Ó Doirnín is one of the most celebrated of the Ulster poets in the eighteenth century and along with Art Mac Cumhaigh, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna and Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta was part of the Airgíalla tradition of poetry and song...
- Séamas Dall Mac CuartaSéamas Dall Mac CuartaSéamas Dall Mac Cuarta was a central figure in the seventeenth and eighteenth century Airgíalla school of poets and songwriters in the Irish language...
- Aogán Ó RathailleAogán Ó RathailleAodhagán Ó Rathaille, also spelt Aogán Ó Rathaille or Anglicised as Egan O'Rahilly , was an Irish language poet. He is credited with creating the first fully developed Aisling poem.-Early life:...
- Seán Clárach Mac Dónaill
- Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin
- Ceol Cheann DubhrannCeol Cheann Dubhrann-Singers:* Máire Ní Bhraonáin* Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh* Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill* Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill* Gearóidín Breathnach* Dónall Mac Ruairí* Connie Mhary Mhicí Ó Gallchóir* Bernard Ó Duibheannaigh* Aodh Óg Ó Duibheannaigh* Aodh Mac Ruairí...