Biographical Note

Ó Cruadhlaoich (Ó Cruadhlaoi, Crowley), Pádraig (Patrick, Gaedheal na nGaedheal) (c.1861-1949): Pádraig Ó Cruadhlaoich was born around 1861 in Ballyvourney, county Cork. His father, Diarmaid, a tailor, came from Kilnamartery, county Cork, and his mother, Máire Ní Loingsigh, was from Ballyvourney. Pádraig became a tailor also. He lived in various places in his twenties before settling down in Macroom in 1885. He married Nóra Ní Chríodáin in 1887. They had three sons and three daughters. He was living with his family on Castle Street, Macroom, during the censuses of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000545268/] and 1911 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001970006/]. Pádraig taught himself to read and write in Irish as an adult. He began writing poems and songs under the pen-name 'Gaedheal na nGaedheal' ('Gael of Gaels'). He composed the Oireachtas festival 'Ode' in 1908 and won first prize for the best song at the Oireachtas of 1909. He was president of the annual poetic gathering Dámhscoil Mhúscraí from its inception in 1926. Pádraig died 15 March 1949. For folkloric material collected from him see, for example, Donncha Ó Cróinín (eag.), Seanchas Phádraig Í Chrualaoi (Dublin, 1982). For his poetry, see his Filidheacht Phádraig Uí Chruadhlaoich (Dublin, 1936). Folkloric material collected from him is also housed in the National Folklore Collection, UCD. For further biographical information, see Ainm.ie at http://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=60, and his autobiography, Cuimhne Sean-leinbh (Dublin, 1946).

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