Eugene O'Growney
Encyclopedia
Eugene O'Growney was an Irish priest and scholar.
Neither of O'Growney's parents spoke Irish Gaelic, and it was little used where he was born. In fact, he was ignorant of the existence of a language of Ireland until introduced to it by a student at St. Finian's seminary at Navan
.
His interest in the language begun there and continued at St. Patrick's College Maynooth, where from his entrance in 1882 he devoted himself to the study of the Irish language, antiquities, and history. O'Growney's holidays were spent in the Irish-speaking parts of the country where he acquired his knowledge of the spoken language. He was ordained a priest in 1888, and was appointed a Curate at Ballynacargy Co Westmeath. Later, he was appointed professor of Irish at Maynooth in 1891, and at about that time, became editor of the "Gaelic Journal
".
At the instance of the Archbishop of Dublin
he began his series of "Simple Lessons in Irish', first published in the "Weekly Freeman", which have done more than any other book in the last two centuries to familiarize thousands of Irish with their ancestral language. O'Growney was one of the founders of the Gaelic League, organized in Dublin in 1893 "for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland", and later became its vice-president, a position he held until his death.
In 1894, failing health sent him to Arizona
and California
, where he died at the age 36 from tuberculosis. His body was interred in the Calvary Cemetery, which overlooks Los Angeles
. In 1903, at the insistence of the Gaelic Leagues of America, and with the approval of the acting President of Maynooth, O'Growney's body was disinterred, brought back to Ireland and buried in the grounds of St Patrick's College, Maynooth. His tomb is a tiny replica of the Church of St Kevin at Glendalough.
A hurling team named in his honour competed in the Pacific Coast Gaelic Games championships in the San Francisco area during the second decade of the 20th Century.
Neither of O'Growney's parents spoke Irish Gaelic, and it was little used where he was born. In fact, he was ignorant of the existence of a language of Ireland until introduced to it by a student at St. Finian's seminary at Navan
Navan
-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
.
His interest in the language begun there and continued at St. Patrick's College Maynooth, where from his entrance in 1882 he devoted himself to the study of the Irish language, antiquities, and history. O'Growney's holidays were spent in the Irish-speaking parts of the country where he acquired his knowledge of the spoken language. He was ordained a priest in 1888, and was appointed a Curate at Ballynacargy Co Westmeath. Later, he was appointed professor of Irish at Maynooth in 1891, and at about that time, became editor of the "Gaelic Journal
Gaelic Journal
-External links:*...
".
At the instance of the Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
he began his series of "Simple Lessons in Irish', first published in the "Weekly Freeman", which have done more than any other book in the last two centuries to familiarize thousands of Irish with their ancestral language. O'Growney was one of the founders of the Gaelic League, organized in Dublin in 1893 "for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland", and later became its vice-president, a position he held until his death.
In 1894, failing health sent him to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he died at the age 36 from tuberculosis. His body was interred in the Calvary Cemetery, which overlooks Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. In 1903, at the insistence of the Gaelic Leagues of America, and with the approval of the acting President of Maynooth, O'Growney's body was disinterred, brought back to Ireland and buried in the grounds of St Patrick's College, Maynooth. His tomb is a tiny replica of the Church of St Kevin at Glendalough.
A hurling team named in his honour competed in the Pacific Coast Gaelic Games championships in the San Francisco area during the second decade of the 20th Century.
External links
- http://www.archive.org/stream/irishecclesiast09unkngoog#page/n436/mode/2up
- http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/meath/fr.-eugene-ogrowney/
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11224a.htm
- http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2009/04/22/38745-fr-o034growney-statue-sculptor-james-power-dies-aged-90