Ó Liatháin, Séamas

Photos

Séamas Ó Liatháin (with the kind permission of the National
                  Folklore Collection, UCD)
Séamas Ó Liatháin (with the kind permission of the National Folklore Collection, UCD)

Biographical Note

Ó Liatháin (Lyons, Ó Liaháin), Séamas (James) (1877-1934): Séamas Ó Liatháin was born in Curragh, Ballybacon parish, county Tipperary, on 16 September 1877. He attended the local school. He was living in Curragh with his family for the censuses of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003909857/] and 1911 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003298453/]. His father, Darby (Jeremiah/Diarmuid) Lyons, was a farmer. His mother was Margaret (Mary) Lyons (née Doody). Séamas was a farmer also. He married Ellen (Helen) Hogan, of nearby Knockperry, in Newcastle parish, on 24 February 1906. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. Séamas died of pneumonia on 6 January 1934. His wife died from the same illness less than a fortnight before him and they were both buried in her family’s plot in the old cemetery in Newcastle. See Proinsias Ó Drisceoil, 'Séamas Ó Liatháin: Labhairt agus Taifeadadh na Gaeilge i nGaeltacht Thiobraid Árann', An Linn Bhuí 20 (2016), for further information on this speaker and on the last generation of native Irish speakers in county Tipperary.

As well as the two stories from Séamas that are available on this site, Doegen recorded Séamas’s telling of the Parable of the Prodigal Son; this recording does not survive, however, as the wax matrix was destroyed en route to Germany and no shellac disc was manufactured.

Personal Details Form ('Personalbogen')

Personalbogen Personalbogen

A personal details form (‘Personalbogen’) was completed for each speaker at the Doegen Scheme recording sessions 1928-31. The information displayed below is derived mainly from these forms.

SexMale
Personalbogen form(s) for this speaker (RIA Library ref.)Doegen P-B/25, Doegen P-B/26
Record number(s) for this speakerLA 1055, LA 1056
Track title(s) for this speakerFear bocht i dtigh ósta - Séamas Ó Liatháin
Gleann Gabhla agus Gleann Bríde - Séamas Ó Liatháin
Track ID(s) for this speaker (User Version)LA_1056d1, LA_1056d2
Forename(s) (Canonical)Séamas
Surname (Canonical)Ó Liatháin
Alias forename(s)

James

Alias surname(s)
  • Ó Liaháin
  • Lyons
County of originCo. Tipperary
AddressCurragh (Crough/Croagh), Caher (Cahir), Co. Tipperary
Age52
Date of birth No data
Place of birthCurragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Nearest big town to place of birthCaher (Cahir), Co. Tipperary
Place(s) lived age 0-6Curragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Place(s) lived age 7-20Curragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Place(s) lived from age 20Curragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
EducationPrimary school, Curragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Father's home placeCurragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Mother's home placeCurragh (Crough/Croagh), Co. Tipperary
Father's professionFarmer
NationalityIrish
Mother tongueIrish
Languages spoken other than IrishEnglish
Able to read?Yes (English)
Able to write?Yes (English)
Able to play a musical instrument?No
Able to sing or play modern European kinds of music?No
ReligionCatholic
ProfessionFarmer
Names (of RIA committee members, recordist) appearing on formOsborn Bergin, Wilhelm Doegen, Tomás Ó Rathile
Comment(s) on voice etc. No data