T. F. O'Rahilly
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Thomas Francis O'Rahilly ( ga, Tomás Ó Rathile; 11 November 1882 – 16 November 1953)Ó Sé, Diarmuid.
O'Rahilly, Thomas Francis (‘T. F.’)
. ''Dictionary of Irish Biography''. (ed.) James McGuire, James Quinn. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
was an Irish scholar of the
Celtic languages The Celtic languages ( usually , but sometimes ) are a group of related languages descended from Proto-Celtic. They form a branch of the Indo-European language family. The term "Celtic" was first used to describe this language group by Edward ...
, particularly in the fields of
historical linguistics Historical linguistics, also termed diachronic linguistics, is the scientific study of language change over time. Principal concerns of historical linguistics include: # to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages # ...
and
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
dialect The term dialect (from Latin , , from the Ancient Greek word , 'discourse', from , 'through' and , 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of Linguistics, linguistic phenomena: One usage refers to a variety (linguisti ...
s. He was a member of the
Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned socie ...
and died in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
in 1953. He is the creator of O'Rahilly's historical model, which has a mixed legacy.


Early years and education

He was born in
Listowel, County Kerry Listowel ( ; , IPA: lʲɪsˠˈt̪ˠuəhəlʲ is a heritage market town in County Kerry, Ireland. It is on the River Feale, from the county town, Tralee. The town of Listowel had a population of 4,820 according to the CSO Census 2016. Des ...
, Ireland to Thomas Francis Rahilly of
Ballylongford Ballylongford (historically ''Bealalongford'', from ) is a village near Listowel in northern County Kerry, Ireland. Geography The village is situated near the estuary of the Ballyline River, on Ballylongford Bay, a tidal estuary of the River Sha ...
, Co. Kerry and Julia Mary Rahilly (''née'' Curry) of Glin, Co. Limerick. He was the seventh of his parents fifteen children. His younger sister was the scholar
Cecile O'Rahilly Cecile O'Rahilly ( ga, Sisile Ní Rathaille; 17 December 1894 in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland – 2 May 1980 in Dublin, Ireland) was a scholar of the Celtic languages. She is best known for her editions/translations of the various recensions o ...
. He received his secondary education at St. Michael's College, Listowel, and later at
Blackrock College Blackrock College ( ga, Coláiste na Carraige Duibhe) is a voluntary secondary school, voluntary day school, day and boarding school, boarding Catholicism, Catholic secondary school for boys aged 13–18, in Williamstown, Blackrock, Dublin, Bl ...
in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...
at the same time as future Irish politician
Éamon de Valera Éamon de Valera (, ; first registered as George de Valero; changed some time before 1901 to Edward de Valera; 14 October 1882 – 29 August 1975) was a prominent Irish statesman and political leader. He served several terms as head of governm ...
. He took an interest in Irish and Celtic languages early in his life, buying Irish language newspaper ''
An Claidheamh Soluis ''An Claidheamh Soluis'' () was an Irish nationalist newspaper published in the early 20th century by ''Conradh na Gaeilge'' (the Gaelic League). It was named for the " Sword of Light" (in modern spelling ''Claíomh Solais'') of Gaelic myth. ...
'' with his pocket money while still a school boy. De Valera commented on this unusual sight:
If O'Rahilly had been reading Greek I would not have been too surprised; I could attempt that myself. But to be reading Gaelic from a newspaper - that was something extraordinary indeed in those days.
He was educated at the
Royal University of Ireland The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the ''University Education (Ireland) Act 1879'' as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on 27 Apri ...
, and received his B.A. in Irish and Classics in 1905. He spent a year teaching Irish at
University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...
, before taking up a permanent position as a clerk in the
Four Courts The Four Courts ( ga, Na Ceithre Cúirteanna) is Ireland's most prominent courts building, located on Inns Quay in Dublin. The Four Courts is the principal seat of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit ...
in 1906, where he stayed until 1919. On 17 October 1918 he married Mary Buckley in
Carrigtwohill Carrigtwohill, officially Carrigtohill (), is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of 5,080 (2016). It is 12 kilometres east of Cork city. It is connected to Cork Suburban Rail and is bypassed by the N25 road. Carrigtwohill is on ...
, Co. Cork. They had no children.


Academic career

O'Rahilly worked full-time in the Irish civil service as a clerk in the Four Courts. He founded and edited journal ''Gadelica: a Journal of Modern Irish Studies which'' "sought to pursue and promote investigation into the area of Celtic studies, including philology". The journal was short-lived due to a shortage of subscriptions and four issues were published between 1912 and 1913. He completed his MA thesis ''The Accentuation of Gaelic'' in 1916. Fellow Celtic languages scholar and lecturer of
Trinity College, Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...
Eleanor Knott Eleanor Marie Knott (born Philippa Marie Eleanor Knott; 18 November 1886 – 4 January 1975), was an Irish scholar, academic and lexicographer, as well as one of the first women elected to the Royal Irish Academy. Early life and education Kno ...
described his work during this period:
His unsurpassed knowledge of modern Irish dialects and manuscript literature was acquired in his early manhood when as a civil servant his chosen studies had perforce to be relegated to evenings, weekends and vacations. Unceasing application during this period together with recurrent attacks of influenza brought about a definite decline in his health and this should be taken into account in considering a characteristic asperity in criticising the work of other scholars.
In 1919 he entered academic life in a full-time capacity upon taking up his first professorship in Irish at Trinity College, Dublin (1919-1929). He was appointed research professor in Celtic languages in 1929 at
University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...
and stayed in this position until 1935.Thomas Francis O'Rahilly Papers 1883-1953
Queen's University Belfast Special Collections & Archives. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
He returned to academic life in Dublin as professor of Celtic languages at University College Dublin (1935-1941). He was director of the School of Celtic Studies at the
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) ( ga, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a statutory independent research institute in Ireland. It was established in 1940 on the initiative of the Taoiseach, Éamon de Valera, in Dub ...
from 1942 to 1947. He received an honorary degree in D.Litt.Celt. from the
National University of Ireland The National University of Ireland (NUI) ( ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann) is a federal university system of ''constituent universities'' (previously called ''university college, constituent colleges'') and ''recognised colleges'' set up under t ...
in 1928 and D.Litt. from Trinity College, Dublin in 1948. O'Rahilly edited '' Celtica'', a journal of the School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, between 1946 and 1950. Other publications by O'Rahilly include a series of anthologies of Irish language poetry publish in the 1920s.


Later years

O'Rahilly retired from academia in 1948. He suffered from poor health for many years and died suddenly on 16 November 1953 at his home. He was buried in
Glasnevin Cemetery Glasnevin Cemetery ( ga, Reilig Ghlas Naíon) is a large cemetery in Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland which opened in 1832. It holds the graves and memorials of several notable figures, and has a museum. Location The cemetery is located in Glasne ...
. His wife believed that his death was due to overwork and burned many of his remaining papers at their home. Some of his surviving papers are held by School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. His collection of books, correspondence, and Irish manuscripts, including an annotated draft of the 1937
Constitution of Ireland The Constitution of Ireland ( ga, Bunreacht na hÉireann, ) is the constitution, fundamental law of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people. The constitution, based on a system of representative democra ...
, were bequeathed to the
Queen's University of Belfast , mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back? , top_free_label = , top_free = , top_free_label1 = , top_free1 = , top_free_label2 = , top_free2 = , established = , closed = , type = Public research university , parent = ...
.


Controversies

O'Rahilly was known for his sometimes controversial theories of Irish history. In his book ''Early Irish History and Mythology'', first published in 1946, O'Rahilly developed an influential model of Irish prehistory based on critical reading of early Irish literary sources, involving four waves of Celtic-speaking invaders. Although O'Rahilly's model was highly influential, it has been challenged in the following decades by Celtic scholars such as
Kenneth H. Jackson Prof Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson CBE FRSE FSA DLitt (1 November 1909 – 20 February 1991) was an English linguistics, linguist and a translator who specialised in the Celtic languages. He demonstrated how the text of the Ulster Cycle of tales, wr ...
and
John T. Koch John T. Koch is an American academic, historian and linguist who specializes in Celtic studies, especially prehistory and the early Middle Ages. He is the editor of the five-volume ''Celtic Culture. A Historical Encyclopedia'' (2006, ABC Clio). He ...
. In 1942 his lecture where he proposed that there were two
Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...
s, was published. Irish author
James Plunkett James Plunkett Kelly, or James Plunkett (21 May 1920 – 28 May 2003), was an Irish writer. He was educated at Synge Street CBS. Kelly grew up among the Dublin working class and they, along with the petty bourgeoisie and lower intelligentsia, ...
described the controversy caused by O'Rahilly's theory:
I can still recall the great scandal of 1942, when a book called ''The Two Patricks'' was published by a learned Irish Professor who advanced the theory that there was one Patrick (Palladius Patrick) whose mission lasted from 432-461, and another who arrived in 462 and died about 490. The suggestion caused a national unheaval. If the careers of the two Patricks, through scholarly bungling, had become inextricably entangled, who did what? And worse still - which of them was the patron saint? If you addressed a prayer to one, might it not be delivered by mistake to the other? There was a feeling abroad that any concession to the two Patricks theory would lead unfailingly to a theory of no Patrick at all.
His views on
language contact Language contact occurs when speakers of two or more languages or varieties interact and influence each other. The study of language contact is called contact linguistics. When speakers of different languages interact closely, it is typical for th ...
and
bilingualism Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. More than half of all E ...
were equally controversial. In ''Irish Dialects Past and Present'' (1932) he wrote the following about the
Manx language Manx ( or , pronounced or ), also known as Manx Gaelic, is a Gaelic language of the insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family. Manx is the historical language of the Manx peop ...
:
From the beginning of its career as a written language English influence played havoc with its syntax, and it could be said without much exaggeration that some of the Manx that has been printed is merely English disguised in a Manx vocabulary. Manx hardly deserved to live. When a language surrenders itself to foreign idiom, and when all its speakers become bilingual, the penalty is death.
This view has more recently been challenged by
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, who suggests that Manx is Gaelic pidginized by early contact with Norse, long before there was any English spoken on the
Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...
.


Family

His sister
Cecile O'Rahilly Cecile O'Rahilly ( ga, Sisile Ní Rathaille; 17 December 1894 in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland – 2 May 1980 in Dublin, Ireland) was a scholar of the Celtic languages. She is best known for her editions/translations of the various recensions o ...
was also a Celtic scholar, and published editions of both recensions of the ''
Táin Bó Cúailnge (Modern ; "the driving-off of the cows of Cooley"), commonly known as ''The Táin'' or less commonly as ''The Cattle Raid of Cooley'', is an epic from Irish mythology. It is often called "The Irish Iliad", although like most other early Iri ...
'' and worked with her brother in the School of Celtic Studies at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. Their brother
Alfred O'Rahilly Alfred O'Rahilly, KSG (1 October 1884 – 1 August 1969) was an academic with controversial views on both electromagnetism and religion. He briefly served in politics, as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Cork City, and was later the president of Univer ...
, himself a noted academic, was President of University College Cork and
Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála ( , ; plural ), abbreviated as TD (plural ''TDanna'' in Irish, TDs in English), is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (the Irish Parliament). It is the equivalent of terms such as ''Member of Parli ...
(TD) for
Cork City Cork ( , from , meaning 'marsh') is the second largest city in Ireland and third largest city by population on the island of Ireland. It is located in the south-west of Ireland, in the province of Munster. Following an extension to the city' ...
. His first cousin Michael O'Rahilly (better known as The O'Rahilly) was a founding member of the
Irish Volunteers The Irish Volunteers ( ga, Óglaigh na hÉireann), sometimes called the Irish Volunteer Force or Irish Volunteer Army, was a military organisation established in 1913 by Irish nationalists and republicans. It was ostensibly formed in respons ...
and died in the
Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...
.


Published works

* ''Dánta Grádha: An Anthology of Irish Love Poetry (1350-1750)'' (1916) * ''Dánfhocail - Irish Epigrams in Verse (1921)'' * ''A Miscellany of Irish Proverbs'' (1922) * ''Papers on Irish Idiom by Peadar Ua Laoghaire, together with a translation into Irish of part of the First Book of Euclid (''1922) * Laoithe Cumainn (1925) * ''Búrdúin Bheaga: Pithy Irish Quatrains (''1925) * ''Measgra Dánta I: Miscellaneous Irish Poems'' (1927) * ''Duanta Eoghain Ruaidh Mhic an Bhaird'' (1930) * ''Irish Dialects Past & Present, with Chapters on Scottish and Manx'' (1932) * ''The Goidels and their Predecessors'' (1936) * ''Desiderius, otherwise called Sgáthán an chrábhaidh, by Flaithrí Ó Maolchonaire (Florence Conry)'' (1941) * ''The Two Patricks: A Lecture on the History of Christianity in Fifth-century Ireland'' (1942) * ''Early Irish History and Mythology'' (1946)


References


External links


Bibliography of T. F. O'Rahilly
from the A. G. van Hamel Foundation for Celtic Studies

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Orahilly, T. F. Academics of Trinity College Dublin 1880s births 1953 deaths Academics of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Alumni of the Royal University of Ireland Celtic studies scholars Linguists from Ireland Members of the Royal Irish Academy Historical linguists People from Listowel 20th-century linguists Academics of University College Cork Academics of University College Dublin