Micheál Mac Suibhne

Mícheál or Micheál Mac Suibhne (c. 1760–1820) was an Irish language Bard from the Connemara Gaeltacht.

Life

Mac Suibhne was born near the ruined Abbey of Cong, then part of County Galway, but now in County Mayo. He spent most of his life in Connemara. He is most associated with Cleggan, County Galway, but also spent parts of his life in Moycullen and south of Clifden. All of his poems were composed and written in Connaught Irish, which was his native tongue.

In 1846, James Hardiman wrote of him: "In this district (Doon, Omey Island, Clifden) there lately lived a neglected poetical genius, whose name was Michael Mac Sweeney, who, though held in high repute by his countrymen, was suffered to die in poverty; but this, it is said, often occurs in half-civilized communities, where pride and ignorance are generally prevalent. By the English-speaking portion of the people, Mac Sweeney was the 'Bard of the West.' He composed, in his native language, several poems and songs of considerable merit; which have become such favourites, that there are few who cannot repeat some of them from memory. Many of these have been collected by the Editor; and if space shall permit, one or more of the most popular will be inserted in the Additional Notes, as a specimen of modern Irish versification, and of those compositions which afford so much social pleasure to the good people of Iar-Connacht."

Legacy

Collectors

In the Additional Notes to Iar or West Connacht (1846),[1] Hardiman included the full version of Abnan an Phuca, the Connemara Wedding and Eoghain Coir by Mac Suibhne.

Following the Irish War of Independence, Professor Tomas Ó Maille collected, edited, and published Mac Suibhne's complete poems in 1934.

Relatives

The Bard's brother, Toirealfhach, also composed poetry in Irish, but none of his compositions survive. Toirealfhach had a son, Johnnie Terry Mac Suibhne, who resided at Newtown, Cleggan. Johnnie's son, Séamus Mac Suibhne, wrote songs in English, including The Bogs of Léana Mór.

References
  1. West or Iar-Connacht, p. 112-113, pp. 283–293, Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh 1684; ed. James Hardiman, 1846.

Bibliography
  • County Mayo in Gaelic Folksong, Brian O'Rourke, pp. 173–74, in Mayo:Aspects of its Heritage, edited by Bernard O'Hara, 1982.
  • Mícheál Mac Suibhne, agus Filidh an tSéibhe, le Tomas Ó Maille, Baile Atha Cliath, Foils. an Rialtais, 1934
  • Galway Authors, Helen Maher, 1976
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