Tomás de Bhaldraithe
Encyclopedia
Tomás de Bhaldraithe was an Irish language scholar and lexicographer born Thomas MacDonagh Waldron in Limerick
. He moved to Dublin with his family at the age of five. He was named after Thomas MacDonagh
one of the signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, who had been executed after the Easter Rising
earlier that year. He adopted the use of the Irish language
version of the name in both Irish and English.
He is best known for his English-Irish Dictionary, published in 1959, which forced a resolution of many long-standing controversies about the literary standard for Irish.
His stance on standard forms and spellings was supported by Éamon de Valera
despite opposition from traditionalists in the Department of Education, and the work is widely seen as an important benchmark in Irish scholarship.
In 1960 he was appointed professor of modern Irish language and literature in University College Dublin
, where he developed an impressive archive of material on Irish dialects. Much of the material in this archive was later used as the basis of Niall Ó Dónaill
's Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, published in 1978, for which he was consulting editor. Also during the 1970s, de Bhaldraithe translated the Irish language
diary
of Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin
into English. It was then published by Mercier Press as, "The Diary of an Irish Countryman."
The language laboratory which he set up in UCD was the first of its kind in any university in Ireland. His interest in seanchas (folklore) led to his publication of Seanchas Thomáis Laighléis
in 1977, while his earlier work includes the ground-breaking study of the Cois Fharraige dialect, Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: Deilbhíocht. In later years he worked extensively on the definitive Irish dictionary, Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge, which remained unfinished when he died in 1996, but which is still in progress today.
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
. He moved to Dublin with his family at the age of five. He was named after Thomas MacDonagh
Thomas MacDonagh
Thomas MacDonagh was an Irish nationalist, poet, playwright, and a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.-Early life:MacDonagh was born in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary...
one of the signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, who had been executed after the Easter Rising
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
earlier that year. He adopted the use of 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...
version of the name in both Irish and English.
He is best known for his English-Irish Dictionary, published in 1959, which forced a resolution of many long-standing controversies about the literary standard for Irish.
His stance on standard forms and spellings was supported by Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
despite opposition from traditionalists in the Department of Education, and the work is widely seen as an important benchmark in Irish scholarship.
In 1960 he was appointed professor of modern Irish language and literature in University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, where he developed an impressive archive of material on Irish dialects. Much of the material in this archive was later used as the basis of Niall Ó Dónaill
Niall Ó Dónaill
Niall Ó Dónaill was an Irish language lexicographer from Loughanure, County Donegal, Ireland. Ó Dónaill is most famous for his work as editor of the 1977 Irish-English dictionary Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla which is still widely used today. He received his education in St Eunan's College in Letterkenny...
's Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, published in 1978, for which he was consulting editor. Also during the 1970s, de Bhaldraithe translated 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...
diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
of Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin
Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin
Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin was an Irish language author, linen draper, politician, and one time hedge school master. He is also known as Humphrey O'Sullivan....
into English. It was then published by Mercier Press as, "The Diary of an Irish Countryman."
The language laboratory which he set up in UCD was the first of its kind in any university in Ireland. His interest in seanchas (folklore) led to his publication of Seanchas Thomáis Laighléis
Thomáis Laighléis
Tomás Laighléis, Seanchai, fl. 1950s.A native of Menlo, County Galway, Laighléis was a seanchai of local history and of Fianna tales. A selection of his recorded tales, was published in 1977 but contains only a fraction of his output.-Reference:...
in 1977, while his earlier work includes the ground-breaking study of the Cois Fharraige dialect, Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: Deilbhíocht. In later years he worked extensively on the definitive Irish dictionary, Foclóir na Nua-Ghaeilge, which remained unfinished when he died in 1996, but which is still in progress today.