Owen Connellan
Encyclopedia
Owen Connellan was an Irish
scholar who translated the Annals of the Four Masters
into English in 1846.
, High King of Ireland
in the fifth century. He studied Irish literature and obtained employment as a scribe with the Royal Irish Academy
. Over the following twenty years he copied a great part of the Books of Lecan and Ballymote
.
When King George IV
visited Ireland Connellan translated his "Letter to the Irish people" into Irish, and was appointed Irish historiographer to the king. When Queen's College
was opened he was appointed professor of Irish
at Cork. Despite some issues with the college president, Robert Kane
, he held the chair until 1863. He lived for many years in Dublin and died at his house in Burlington Road in 1871.
His most important work was Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe, or, The proceedings of the great Bardic Institution, which relates how Senchán Torpéist
recovered the Táin Bó Cúailnge
, one of the most famous tales of the Irish bards.
, dedicated to spreading the Scripture in Ireland through the means of the Irish language, published a Grammar of the Irish Language. In the preface of this book he acknowledged that he was not acquainted with Irish as a colloquial but only as a written language. Little notice was taken of the book until he was rash enough to print in the Christian Examiner for September 1833 a long letter on "The Irish Language", ostensibly a critique of Owen Connellan's edition of the Irish prayer-book, but in reality a personal attack upon him and Thady Connellan
, a relative. Owen Connellan replied, as far as the editor of the magazine would allow him, in the October number (pp. 729-732). He showed that Mason's Grammar was a mass of errors, and that the pocket edition of Bishop Bedell
's Irish Bible, issued by the Irish Society under Mason's supervision, was just as inaccurate. In these strictures Connellan was supported by Dr. Charles Orpen
and John O'Donovan
. Connellan soon afterwards printed his reply in its unmutilated form as A Dissertation on Irish Grammar, 1834.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
scholar who translated the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
into English in 1846.
Life
He was born in County Sligo, the son of a farmer who claimed descent from Lóegaire mac NéillLóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire , also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king lists include him as a King of Tara or High King of Ireland. He appears as an adversary of Saint Patrick in several hagiographies...
, High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
in the fifth century. He studied Irish literature and obtained employment as a scribe with the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
. Over the following twenty years he copied a great part of the Books of Lecan and Ballymote
Book of Ballymote
The Book of Ballymote , named for the parish of Ballymote, County Sligo, was written in 1390 or 1391....
.
When King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
visited Ireland Connellan translated his "Letter to the Irish people" into Irish, and was appointed Irish historiographer to the king. When Queen's College
Queen's University of Ireland
The Queen's University of Ireland was established formally by Royal Charter on 3 September 1850, as the degree-awarding university of the Queen's Colleges of Belfast, Cork, and Galway that were established in 1845 "to afford a university education to members of all religious denominations" in...
was opened he was appointed professor of Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
at Cork. Despite some issues with the college president, Robert Kane
Robert Kane (chemist)
Sir Robert John Kane was an Irish chemist.-Youth:His father, John Kean, was involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and fled for a time to France where he studied chemistry...
, he held the chair until 1863. He lived for many years in Dublin and died at his house in Burlington Road in 1871.
His most important work was Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe, or, The proceedings of the great Bardic Institution, which relates how Senchán Torpéist
Senchán Torpéist
Senchán Torpéist, Gaelic-Irish poet of Ireland, -Background:Seanchan Torpest was the Chief Poet of Connacht in 598 AD when he succeeded Dallán Forgaill as Chief Ollam of Ireland...
recovered the Táin Bó Cúailnge
Táin Bó Cúailnge
is a legendary tale from early Irish literature, often considered an epic, although it is written primarily in prose rather than verse. It tells of a war against Ulster by the Connacht queen Medb and her husband Ailill, who intend to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, opposed only by the teenage...
, one of the most famous tales of the Irish bards.
Dispute with Henry Monck Mason
In 1830 Henry J. Monck Mason, founder of The Irish SocietyThe Irish Society
The Irish Society, or to give it its full name, The Irish society for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, was founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1818 by members of the Church of Ireland...
, dedicated to spreading the Scripture in Ireland through the means of the Irish language, published a Grammar of the Irish Language. In the preface of this book he acknowledged that he was not acquainted with Irish as a colloquial but only as a written language. Little notice was taken of the book until he was rash enough to print in the Christian Examiner for September 1833 a long letter on "The Irish Language", ostensibly a critique of Owen Connellan's edition of the Irish prayer-book, but in reality a personal attack upon him and Thady Connellan
Thady Connellan
Thady Connellan was an Irish school-teacher, poet and historian.-Life:He was born in Skreen, County Sligo, and was a relative of the scholar Owen Connellan. He started a school of his own, but had more success when he became principal of a school established by Albert Blest, a Baptist, in...
, a relative. Owen Connellan replied, as far as the editor of the magazine would allow him, in the October number (pp. 729-732). He showed that Mason's Grammar was a mass of errors, and that the pocket edition of Bishop Bedell
William Bedell
William Bedell was an Anglican churchman.-Early life:He was born at Black Notley in Essex, and educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a pupil of William Perkins. He became a fellow of Emmanuel in 1593, and took orders...
's Irish Bible, issued by the Irish Society under Mason's supervision, was just as inaccurate. In these strictures Connellan was supported by Dr. Charles Orpen
Charles Orpen
Dr. Charles Edward Herbert Orpen was an Irish physician, writer and clergyman who founded the Claremont Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Glasnevin, Dublin.-Life:...
and John O'Donovan
John O'Donovan (scholar)
John O'Donovan , from Atateemore, in the parish of Kilcolumb, County Kilkenny, and educated at Hunt's Academy, Waterford, was an Irish language scholar from Ireland.-Life:...
. Connellan soon afterwards printed his reply in its unmutilated form as A Dissertation on Irish Grammar, 1834.
Works
- Grammatical Interlineary Version of the Gospel of St. John 1830
- Grammatical Praxis on the Gospel of St. Matthew 1830
- Dissertation on Irish Grammar 1834
- A Practical Grammar of the Irish Language 1844
- Translation of The Annals of Ireland from the Irish of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four MastersThe Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
1846 - Translation of Imtheacht na Tromdhaimhe, or, The proceedings of the great Bardic Institution (1860)