Photos

Mícheál Ó Cionnfhaolaidh (with the kind permission of the National Folklore Collection, UCD)

Biographical Note

Ó Cionnfhaolaidh (Ó Cionnfhaola, Kenneally, Kinnelley), Mícheál (Míhál, Michael) (1887-1956): Míchéal Ó Cionnfhaolaidh was born 26 February 1887 in Park, Knockanpower, in the parish of Ringagonagh, county Waterford. He was there during the census of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001246857/]. His father, Dónall, was a fisherman. His mother's name was Siobhán Carey. Mícheál was their only child. He became a teacher, which brought him to Limerick for the years 1908-11. He was in Castleconnell, county Limerick, for the census of 1911 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002739693/]. He then moved to Athy, county Kildare, for three years, and to Waterford city for a further year, before returning to Ringville. He became very involved with Coláiste na Rinne ('Ring College'), teaching summer courses there between 1912 and 1952. He was elected to the steering committee in 1915. He was appointed as a teacher in Scoil na Leanbh, Ringville, when the school was founded in 1919. He was a member of Sinn Féin. He married Bríd Ní Nuanáin of Ballynagaul, Ringagonagh. They had two daughters and eight sons. His first book appeared in 1922, and he went on to publish many schoolbooks, biographies and collections of stories. He died 18 August 1956. For folkloric material collected from him, see Risteárd de hAe, Clár Litridheacht na Nua-Ghaedhilge (Dublin, 1938-40), index. 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=496, and articles by his son Dónall in An Linn Bhuí 4 (2000) and Muiris Budhlaeir in An Linn Bhuí 9 (2005).

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