Énrí Ó Muirgheasa (Henry Morris) (14 January 1874 – 13 August 1945), was an Irish civil servant, Irish language scholar, folklore collector, historian and writer.

Énrí Ó Muirgheasa
BornHenry Morris
14 January 1874
Cashlan East, Lisdoonan, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan, Ireland
Died13 August 1945(1945-08-13) (aged 71)
Strabane, County Tyrone
OccupationTeacher, historian, writer
NationalityIrish
Literary movementGaelic League

Early life and family

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Ó Muirgheasa was born in Cashlan East, Lisdoonan, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan on 14 January 1874.[1][2] He was a son of Lúcas Ó Muirgheasa, a farmer, and Máire Nic Ward. He attended Lisdoonan school but learned to read and write Irish from his granduncle, Proinsias Ó Conghaile.[1]

Ó Muirgheasa married harpist and fellow teacher, Eibhlín Ní Raghallaigh (Helen O'Reilley) of Dundalk in 1906. Their son, Colum, was born and died in 1907. Eibhlín died in 1908. In 1912, he remarried to Máire Woods from County Galway. Ó Muirgheasa died on 13 August 1945 in Strabane.[1]

Career

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He was appointed monitor at Lisdoonan school in 1888, where he established the first Monaghan branch of the Gaelic League. Ó Muirgheasa graduated as a teacher from St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, in 1900, obtaining a teaching post at St. Malachy's, Dundalk, in 1901, where he was one of the founders of the Louth Historical and Archaeological Society in 1903. Ó Muirgheasa moved to Strabane, County Tyrone in 1907, where he organised the teaching of Irish in schools. He moved to Derry in 1912, and then became a school inspector in Skerries. In 1923, he was appointed a divisional inspector in Sligo, becoming deputy chief inspector in 1932.[1][2]

His writings were published widely in both journals and newspapers.[2]

Bibliography

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  • Greann na Gaedhilge, 1901
  • Seanfhocla Uladh, 1907
  • Ceithearnach Ui Dhomhnaill, 1912
  • Cead de Cheoltaibh Uladh, 1915[2]
  • Abhráin Airt Mhic Chubhthaigh, 1916
  • Oíche áirneáil i dTír Chonaill, 1924
  • Amhrán na Midhe, 1933
  • Dánta Diadha Uladh, 1936[1]
  • Amhráin na Midhe le hÉnrí Ó Muirgheasa, Lesa Ní Mhunghaile, Navan, Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 2015

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ó Ciardha, Éamonn. "Morris, Henry". www.dib.ie. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Newmann, Kate. "Henry Morris (1874 - 1945): Teacher and writer". www.newulsterbiography.co.uk. The Dictionary of Ulster Biography. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
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