Liam
Mac Mathúna
Works authored
Seán Ó Neachtain and his son Tadhg were at the centre of Gaelic scholarship in Dublin in the first half of the eighteenth century. Much of their work is infused by the impulses of modernity and sensibility, which permeated the city’s intellectual life at the time. The numerous extant manuscripts, which the Ó Neachtains and their learned colleagues wrote, bear testimony to that community’s industry, not only in preserving the literature of earlier periods but in creating new works. This is therefore an account of Gaelic scholarship in an urban setting, told from the inside.
Seán Ó Neachtain and his son Tadhg were at the centre of Gaelic scholarship in Dublin in the first half of the eighteenth century. Much of their work is infused by the impulses of modernity and sensibility, which permeated the city’s intellectual life at the time. The numerous extant manuscripts, which the Ó Neachtains and their learned colleagues wrote, bear testimony to that community’s industry, not only in preserving the literature of earlier periods but in creating new works. This is therefore an account of Gaelic scholarship in an urban setting, told from the inside.
Works edited
Ardaíonn ábhar nanImeachtaí seoceisteanna bunúsacha i dtaca leis an ngaol idir an saol uirbeach agus an nua-aoiseacht. An féidir a léiriú go háititheach go raibh an chéadfacht mhothúchánach á cur in iúl ar bhealaí nua? An rabhthas níos réidhe chun mothúcháin a chur i bhfocail agus i bhfriotail as Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath ag tús an 18ú haois ná mar a bhíothas roimhe seo? Nó, an amhlaidh go raibh níos mó ná sin i gceist, is é sin, go raibh cruinneshamhail nua tagtha ar an bhfód? An raibh aon éifeacht aige seo go léir ar an Athbheochan ag casadh an fichiú haois, maidir le tuiscintí, coincheapa nó gníomhaíocht de? An bhfuil éifeacht intleachtúil aige sa lá atá inniu ann?
Ardaíonn ábhar nanImeachtaí seoceisteanna bunúsacha i dtaca leis an ngaol idir an saol uirbeach agus an nua-aoiseacht. An féidir a léiriú go háititheach go raibh an chéadfacht mhothúchánach á cur in iúl ar bhealaí nua? An rabhthas níos réidhe chun mothúcháin a chur i bhfocail agus i bhfriotail as Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath ag tús an 18ú haois ná mar a bhíothas roimhe seo? Nó, an amhlaidh go raibh níos mó ná sin i gceist, is é sin, go raibh cruinneshamhail nua tagtha ar an bhfód? An raibh aon éifeacht aige seo go léir ar an Athbheochan ag casadh an fichiú haois, maidir le tuiscintí, coincheapa nó gníomhaíocht de? An bhfuil éifeacht intleachtúil aige sa lá atá inniu ann?
Lia Fáil was originally published by the National University of Ireland as a journal of Irish research. Four volumes, edited by Douglas Hyde, were published between 1925 and 1932. Scholarly, interesting and innovative, Lia Fáil featured a wide range of material and included articles by Hyde’s postgraduate students. This elegant facsimile edition reproduces all four books in a single volume. Edited by Liam Mac Mathúna, the book includes a new introduction by Seán Ó Coileáin.
Douglas Hyde was appointed first Professor of Modern Irish in UCD in 1909. In 1922 the Senate of the National University of Ireland accepted a recommendation from the Professors of Irish that the generous bequest from Dr. Adam Boyd Simpson should be used to fund ‘a journal of Irish research’. Hyde (Dubhglas de h’Íde, An Craoibhín) was appointed editor. The result was Lia Fáil, four volumes of which were published between 1925 and 1932, the year of Hyde’s retirement from UCD.
Seen always as a force for unity, with the capacity for bridging social, political and cultural divisions, Douglas Hyde was nominated with all-party support as a candidate for the presidency of Ireland and in May 1938 was elected unopposed as the country’s first President. Maurice Manning contributes a reflection on Hyde and the presidency to this volume.
Lia Fáil was originally published by the National University of Ireland as a journal of Irish research. Four volumes, edited by Douglas Hyde, were published between 1925 and 1932. Scholarly, interesting and innovative, Lia Fáil featured a wide range of material and included articles by Hyde’s postgraduate students. This elegant facsimile edition reproduces all four books in a single volume. Edited by Liam Mac Mathúna, the book includes a new introduction by Seán Ó Coileáin.
Douglas Hyde was appointed first Professor of Modern Irish in UCD in 1909. In 1922 the Senate of the National University of Ireland accepted a recommendation from the Professors of Irish that the generous bequest from Dr. Adam Boyd Simpson should be used to fund ‘a journal of Irish research’. Hyde (Dubhglas de h’Íde, An Craoibhín) was appointed editor. The result was Lia Fáil, four volumes of which were published between 1925 and 1932, the year of Hyde’s retirement from UCD.
Seen always as a force for unity, with the capacity for bridging social, political and cultural divisions, Douglas Hyde was nominated with all-party support as a candidate for the presidency of Ireland and in May 1938 was elected unopposed as the country’s first President. Maurice Manning contributes a reflection on Hyde and the presidency to this volume.
