Biographical Note

Ó Súilleabháin (Sullivan), Proinnsias (Pronnséas, Proinsias) (1889/90-1956): According to the Personal-Bogen form, Proinnsias Ó Súilleabháin was born in Adrigole, Bantry, county Cork, on February 13, 1890; according to Ainm.ie, he was born on October 13, 1889. His father was Eugene Sullivan, farmer, and Proinnsias was living with him during the census of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000500136/]. He attended primary school in Adrigole, obtained a degree in University College Dublin, and went on to do his PhD in Freiburg University, Germany, 1920-25. Ó Súilleabháin spent periods living in Dublin, Limerick, Freiburg, Galway, as well as counties Waterford and Kilkenny. When he retired in 1955, he was living at 16 Oakley Drive, Rathgar, Dublin. He worked as a teacher, language organizer and inspector, and was involved with the Gaelic League from 1910. In 1941, he was director of the first year-long Department of Education course for the training of teachers and language organizers. Aside from the world of education, he qualified as a barrister in 1949. After retirement, he worked for the German electricity company AEG. He was married to Ilse Koehling, whom he met during his time in Freiburg. They had a son and a daughter. He died on February 27, 1956, and is buried in Glasnevin cemetery. For folkloric material collected from him, see Risteárd de hAe, Clár Litridheacht na Nua-Ghaedhilge (Dublin, 1938-40), index. Material collected from him is housed also in the National Folklore Collection, UCD. He wrote and edited books of prose, poetry and folklore, for children and adults. For further biographical information on Ó Súilleabháin, see Ainm.ie at http://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=548, and 'Proinsias on the war path!' in An tSiúr De Lourdes Stack, As we lived it (The Kerryman Limited, 1980). A piece by Aindrias Ó Muimhneacháin, speaking about him on Raidió Éireann, appears in Inniu (March 2, 1956).

Personal Details Form ('Personalbogen')