Pádraig Ó Baoighill
Photographer: Caoimhín Ó Peatáin
Usage rights: COMHAR
Date: 1 March 2019
Setting: Culmore Road, Derry
Genres: Biographer, Short story writer, Journalist, Historian, Writer for radio
Rugadh agus tógadh Pádraig Ó Baoighill i Rann na Feirste i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill. D’fhreastail sé ar Mheánscoil Naomh Adhamhnáin, Leitir Ceanainn 1948–52 agus ar an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath san caogaidí. Ba le linn dó a bheith ag obair le Gael Linn sna luathbhlianta (1953–54) a thosaigh sé ag scríobh do Comhar agus ó bheith ag imirt le foireann Ciceam, BÁC chuaigh sé ag scriobh don Gaelic Weekly, Gaelic Sport agus Hogan Stand. Nuair a bhí sé ag obair le Gael Linn i gCúige Uladh (1954–1970), chuir sé altanna Gaeilge ar fáil ar feadh seacht mbliana don Irish News, chomh maith le bheith ag scríobh go rialta do An tUltach. Nuair a d’éirigh sé as a a phost mar Bhainisteoir Margaíochta le Gael Linn i 1992 chuaigh sé ag scríobh go lán-aimseartha, agus foilsíodh a chéad leabhar gearrscéalta An Coileach Troda (Coiscéim).
I measc na leabhar a scríobh sé, tá: Nally as Maigh Eo (Coiscéim, 1998), beathaisnéis an fhínín stairiúil as Balla, Co Mhaigh Eo, a bhfuil ainm an ardán i bPáirc an Chrócaigh ainmnithe ina chuimhne agus a raibh dlúthbhaint aige le bunadh Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Thug sé faoi mhórán taighde in Albain ar Robbie Burns agus foilsíodh an leabhar toirteach File Náisiúnta na hAlban: Rabbie Burns — An Nasc le hÉirinn (Coiscéim, 2015). Dhírigh an leabhar Ó Ghleann go Fánaid (Coiscéim, 2000 & 2008) ar shaol na Gaeltachta i dTír Chonaill, agus ina dhiaidh sin chraolaigh sé an clár Dúchas ar chainteoirí as na breacGhaelachtaí ar Raidio na Gaeltachta (2000 & 2018). Ba An Capall Dubh agus Scéalta Eile (Coiscéim, 2018) an leabhar cruthaitheach deireanach uaidh, cnuasach gearrscéalta ina bhfuil cuid mhaith acu suite i saol na Gaeltachta.
Pádraig Ó Baoighill was born and raised in Ranafast in the Donegal Gaeltacht renowned for its many esteemed writers, musicians and artists. He was inspired to write by local writers: Séamus & Seosamh Mac Grianna, Eoghan Ó Domhnaill, Niall Ó Domhnaill and Tadhg Ó Rabhartaigh. In Ranafast National School, he read most of the Irish books from the library arranged by the principal, and he became a voracious reader henceforth. He attended St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny (1948–1952) and enrolled in University College Dublin (UCD) in 1953 to study Celtic Studies.
Following a short teaching term in Buncrana (1953), he commenced work with Gael Linn during its inception in May 1953; he was promoted to Regional Manager in Ulster (1954) and then to National Development Manager in Dublin (1970). In the early 1950’s he played Gaelic football with Kickham’s GFC, Dublin and thence began a long career writing about Gaelic Games activities in magazines such as Gaelic Weekly, Gaelic Sport, Gaelic World, Hogan Stand and a series on the Donegal Gaeltacht in the Irish Press (1955). Similarly, he wrote articles for many Irish language periodicals, including Comhar, An t-Ultach, Feasta, Rosc, Deirdre, Inniu, and an Irish column in The Irish News (1980’s).
When he retired in 1992, he dedicated his time to fulltime writing and his first book of short stories An Coilleach Troda was published (Coiscéim, 1993). This was followed by Óglach na Rosann (Coiscéim, 1994) — a book on the War of Independence in the Rosses, Donegal. Pádraig has published extensively over the last thirty years and his most noteworthy works include: Nally as Maigh Eo (Coiscéim, 1999) — a biography of the champion athlete from Mayo for whom the Nally Stand, Croke Park is named; Ó Ghleann go Fánaid (Coiscéim, 2000 & 2008) — an impressive travel book for tourists to the Donegal area, and Rabbie Burns: An Nasc le hÉirinn (Coiscéim, 2015) — a tome of a biography on the famous Scottish poet.
Due to his continuous interest and dedication to the Gaeltacht area, he wrote, and broadcast a series called ‘Dúchas’ on Radio na Gaeltachta (2000 & 2018), featuring native Irish speakers from the Donegal breac Gaeltachtaí, some of who were recorded for the first, and last time. His last creative work, An Capall Dubh agus Scéalta Eile (Coiscéim, 2018), was a collection of 22 short stories, in which his language and his subject matter was rich in traditional material. It received positive critical acclaim among contemporary Irish-language scholars and academics. He was awarded an Honorary Degree in Literature by the University of Ulster in 2005.
Birth date: 15 November 1932
Place of birth: Rann na Feirste, Co. Donegal
Death date: 21 June 2024
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Ba choscrach dreach an Chapaill Dhuibh a bhí mar chapall rása lá den tsaol, é ina luí ansin gan lúth gan láthair. Bhí an duibhe ar shiúl agus an liath anois ina áit. Bhí an bolg ataithe agus an fhuil ag teacht amach as a pholláirí. Bhí na súile dearga scáfar ag amharc go cianach in airde na spéire.
Bhí an gasúr fá eagla cuachta in ascaill a athara, an ghruaig chatach scrábach gan chíoradh. Bhí na deora ag teacht go fras as na súile móra a bhí sáite in uaigh an chapaill agus é ag síorchrith. Bhí an cúpla ina rith thart go critheaglach gan a fhios acu cá háit a raibh an Capall Dubh ag dul. Bhí duine acu i ndiaidh éirí as a leaba nuair a chuala sé an tíothbháil. Bhí siad ar thórramh amháin roimhe sin — torrámh a máthara nach raibh mórán aithne acu uirthi. Ligeadh an Capall Dubh síos go tóin an phoill le rópa cnáibe agus thosaigh na fir ag líonadh isteach na créafóige — Naos agus na lámha móra garga ag sluaistriú mar a bheadh seisreach ann. “Tá drocham ann; thall agus abhus,” a dúirt sé.
Bhris racht fíochmhar chaointe ar an ghasúr óg nuair a chuala sé torann na gcloch ag titim ar bholg an chapaill san uaigh, an capall sin a bhí níos gaire dó ná deartháir. Chuach an seanduine an tseanchideog a bhí air féin thart air i bhfuacht na hoíche. Ní raibh sé ábalta labhairt. Bhí mórán smaointe ag dul fríd chroí an ghasúra ag amharc ar an Chapall Dubh ag dul i bhfolach sa chré in aice an locha an áit a raibh sé ag súil go mbeadh an bheirt acu ag obair go sonasach.
An Capall Dubh agus Scéalta Eile (Coiscéim: 2018).
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