Back / Siar

An tAthair Eoghan Ó Gramhnaigh

 25ú Lúnasa1863 - 18ú Deireadh Fómhair 1899

	Leathanach Tosaigh na 'Simple Lessons.'	Ó Gramhnaigh agus a Bhanaltra

B'fhearr an aithne a bhí ar an Ollamh seo le Gaeilge ag Má Nuad as a cholún seachtainiúil 'Simple Lessons in Irish', a spreag suas le 250,000 duine an Ghaeilge a léamh agus a scríobh. Is i mBaile Átha Buí a rugadh é agus ina óige chuir sé suim sa Ghaeilge, ag léamh irisí agus ag labhairt le cainteoirí dúchais Gaeilge sa gceantar. Duine do na chéad daoine a chuala sé ag labhairt Gaeilge go dúchasach ná Johnny Gantly as Baile hUigín, a bhí ag obair mar fhear chapall sa bparóiste. Bhí sé ina hOllamh le Gaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile Má Nuad. Bhí sé ina cheannródaí i gConradh na Gaeilge agus ina eagarthóir ar Iris Leabhair na Gaedhilge.  B'éigean do éirí as a phost i Má Nuad de bharr droch sláinte agus chuaigh sé go dtí na S.A.M. in 1884. Fuair sé bás i Los Angelus i 1889. Sa bhliain 1903 áfach tugadh a chorp ar ais go Má Nuad agus cuireadh sa ‘Mhásailéam’ é i reilig an Choláiste. 

As professor in Irish at Maynooth, he was best known for his weekly columns 'Simple Lessons in Irish', said to have inspired some 250,000 people to read and write Irish. Born in Athboy, as a youth he developed an interest in the Irish language by seeking out native speakers and reading Gaelic journals. One of the first native Irish speakers he heard was a man named Johnny Gantley from Higginstown, a ploughman who was working in the parish. He was Professor of Gaeilge in St. Patrick's College Maynooth,  a founder member of Conradh na Gaeilge and editor ‘The Gaelic Journal.’  Forced to leave his position due to ill health, he went to America in 1894.  He died in Los Angeles in 1899.  In 1903 his body was returned to Maynooth and laid to rest in the College Mausoleum.

Rugadh é i mBaile Béal Átha Faithleann sa bhliain 1863. Fuair sé a chuid oideachais sa bhunscoil in Áth Buí. Cliarscoil Deoise Naomh Finnian, An Uaimh agus Coláiste Mhá Nuad. 
Mhuscail a shuim sa Ghaeilge ina óige trí bhualadh le cainteoirí ó dhúchais agus trí Irisí Ghaeilge a léamh. 
Ornaíodh é sa bhliain  18?? Agus bhí sé mar shagart cúnta sa Mhuileann gCearr roimh bogadh go dtí Baile na Carraige i gCo. Na hIarmhí.
Ceapadh é mar Ollamh le Gaeilge i gColáiste Mhá Nuad sa bhliain 1891.    Ba gnách leis altanna a scríobh don Iris Ghaelach agus ceapadh é mar eagarthóir sa bhliain céanna.   Is de bharr a chuid scríbhinní a bunaíodh Conradh na Gaeilge sa bhliain 1893. Ceapadh an tAthair Ó Gramhnaigh mar leas-uachtarán ar an gConradh go gairid tar éis bunú na h-eagraíochta.     I measc gach a rinne sé ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeilge, d’fhoilsigh sé sraith leabhrán dar teideal ‘’Easy Lessons in Irish.’’  

Bhí sláinte an Athair Uí Ghramhnaigh ag dul chun donacht sa bhliain 1894 agus bhog sé go San Francisco agus i ndiaidh sin go hArizona ar mhaithe leis an aer tirim a fháil.   B’éigean do éirí as a phost le Má Nuad de bharr nár tháinig aon fheabhas ar a chuid sláinte.  

Fuair sé bás i Los Angeles ar an 18ú Deireadh Fómhair 1899 in aois a 36 bliana.   Ceithre bliana i ndiaidh sin, tugadh a chorp abhaile go hÉirinn agus adhlacadh é i Má Nuad.  

Sa bhliain 1956 nochtadh dealbh den Athair Ó Gramhnaigh ar thalamh an tséipéil in Áth Buí, dealbh de chuid an ealaíontóir Séamus de Paor.

Born in Ballyfallon, Athboy, in 1863. He was educated at Athboy N.S., St. Finian's Diocesan Seminary, Navan and Maynooth College.
As a youth he developed an interest in the Irish language by seeking out native speakers and reading Gaelic journals.
He was ordained in 18?? and was curate in Mullingar before moving to Ballinacargy, Co. Westmeath.
In 1891, he was appointed Professor of Irish at Maynooth College. He was a frequent contributor to the Gaelic Journal of which he became the editor in the same year. It was largely due to his writings that the Gaelic League was founded in 1893. Shortly after its foundation  Fr. O’ Growney became its vice-president. His contribution to the Irish language included the publication of a series called "Easy Lessons in Irish".

Fr. O’ Growney suffered a deterioration in health in 1894 and moved to San Francisco and later to Arizona to benefit from the dry air. However, with no improvement in his health, he was forced to resign from his position in Maynooth.

He died in Los Angeles on 18th. October 1899, aged 36. Four years later, his body was returned to Ireland and interred in Maynooth.

In 1956, a statue of Fr. O’ Growney, sculpted by Seamus de Paor, was unveiled in the church grounds.

Back / Siar