Patrick Weston Joyce
Encyclopedia
Patrick Weston Joyce was an Irish
historian, writer and music collector, known particularly for his research in local place names of Ireland
.
, on the borders of counties Limerick
and Cork
in Ireland, and grew up in nearby Glenosheen. Robert Dwyer Joyce
was a younger brother. Joyce was a native Irish speaker who started his education at a hedge school
. He then attended school in Mitchelstown
, County Cork.
Joyce started work in 1845 with the Commission of National Education. He became a teacher and principal of the Model School, Clonmel
. In 1856 he was one of fifteen teachers selected to re-organize the national school system in Ireland. Meanwhile he earned his B.A. in 1861 and M.A. in 1863 from Trinity College
, Dublin.
He was principal of the Training College, Marlborough Street, in Dublin from 1874 to 1893. As a member of the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language he wrote an Irish Grammar in 1878. He was President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
from 1906 to 1908, an association of which he was a member from 1865.
Joyce was a key cultural figure of his time. His wide interests included the Irish language
, Hiberno-English
, music, education, Irish literature and folklore, Irish history and antiquities, place-names and much else. He produced many works on the history and culture of Ireland. His most enduring work is the pioneering The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (first edition published in 1869).
, Drumcondra
, Dublin, reflects many of Joyce's interests and includes many rarities. These include autographed presentation copies by P.W. Joyce and his brother Robert Dwyer Joyce
and books from P.W. Joyce's own library. The collection also contains nine manuscripts associated with P.W. Joyce and his family members, including a very fine manuscript in Joyce's hand of Echtra Cormaic itir Tairngiri agus Ceart Claíd Cormaic (Adventures of Cormac in the Land of Promise), a passage from the Book of Ballymote
which Joyce translated into English.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
historian, writer and music collector, known particularly for his research in local place names of Ireland
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...
.
Biography
He was born in Ballyorgan in the Ballyhoura MountainsBallyhoura Mountains
The Ballyhoura Mountains are located in south-east County Limerick and north-east County Cork in central Munster, running east and west for about 6 miles on the borders of both counties.-Features:...
, on the borders of counties Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
in Ireland, and grew up in nearby Glenosheen. Robert Dwyer Joyce
Robert Dwyer Joyce
Robert Dwyer Joyce was an Irish poet, writer, and collector of traditional Irish music.-Life:He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, where his parents, Garret Joyce and Elizabeth O'Dwyer, lived in the northern foothills of the Ballyhoura Mountains, west of Ballyorgan...
was a younger brother. Joyce was a native Irish speaker who started his education at a hedge school
Hedge school
A hedge school is the name given to an educational practice in 18th and 19th century Ireland, so called due to its rural nature. It came about as local educated men began an oral tradition of teaching the community...
. He then attended school in Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown
Mitchelstown is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3300. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains close to the Mitchelstown Caves and is 28 km from Cahir, 50 km from Cork and 59 km from Limerick...
, County Cork.
Joyce started work in 1845 with the Commission of National Education. He became a teacher and principal of the Model School, Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
. In 1856 he was one of fifteen teachers selected to re-organize the national school system in Ireland. Meanwhile he earned his B.A. in 1861 and M.A. in 1863 from Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, Dublin.
He was principal of the Training College, Marlborough Street, in Dublin from 1874 to 1893. As a member of the Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language he wrote an Irish Grammar in 1878. He was President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland
The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland is a learned society based in Ireland, whose aims are 'to preserve, examine and illustrate all ancient monuments and memorials of the arts, manners and customs of the past, as connected with the antiquities, language, literature and history of Ireland'. ...
from 1906 to 1908, an association of which he was a member from 1865.
Joyce was a key cultural figure of his time. His wide interests included the Irish language
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...
, Hiberno-English
Hiberno-English
Hiberno-English is the dialect of English written and spoken in Ireland .English was first brought to Ireland during the Norman invasion of the late 12th century. Initially it was mainly spoken in an area known as the Pale around Dublin, with Irish spoken throughout the rest of the country...
, music, education, Irish literature and folklore, Irish history and antiquities, place-names and much else. He produced many works on the history and culture of Ireland. His most enduring work is the pioneering The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (first edition published in 1869).
Joyce collection in St. Patrick's College
The P.W. Joyce collection at the Cregan Library in St Patricks' CollegeSt. Patrick's College of Education (Drumcondra)
St Patrick's College of Education is a linked college of Dublin City University since 1993, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland. The college is in existence since 1875 and has a Roman Catholic ethos. It is the largest primary teacher training college in Ireland...
, Drumcondra
Drumcondra, Dublin
Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
, Dublin, reflects many of Joyce's interests and includes many rarities. These include autographed presentation copies by P.W. Joyce and his brother Robert Dwyer Joyce
Robert Dwyer Joyce
Robert Dwyer Joyce was an Irish poet, writer, and collector of traditional Irish music.-Life:He was born in County Limerick, Ireland, where his parents, Garret Joyce and Elizabeth O'Dwyer, lived in the northern foothills of the Ballyhoura Mountains, west of Ballyorgan...
and books from P.W. Joyce's own library. The collection also contains nine manuscripts associated with P.W. Joyce and his family members, including a very fine manuscript in Joyce's hand of Echtra Cormaic itir Tairngiri agus Ceart Claíd Cormaic (Adventures of Cormac in the Land of Promise), a passage from the Book of Ballymote
Book of Ballymote
The Book of Ballymote , named for the parish of Ballymote, County Sligo, was written in 1390 or 1391....
which Joyce translated into English.
Select works
- The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places (3 volumes, 1869, 1875, 1913)
- Irish local names explained (1870)
- Ancient Irish music (1872)
- A Handbook of School Management (1876)
- An Irish Grammar (1878)
- On the Old Celtic Romances (1879)
- Old Irish Folk Music, 842 airs, partly from the Forde and Pigot collections (1909)
- Irish Peasant Songs
- Irish Music and Song (1888)
- A concise history of Ireland
- A history of Gaelic Ireland from the earliest times to 1608 (1893)
- English as we speak it in Ireland (1910)
- Ireland's battles and battlefields
- Irish names of places
- Old Irish folk music and songs
- A social history of ancient Ireland 2 vols. (1906)
- The story of ancient Irish civilisation (1907)
- The wonders of Ireland (1911)
External links
- A Concise History of Ireland (by P. W. Joyce)
- Origin and History of Irish Names of Places Available online at Archive.org
- Limerick County Council Joyce collection