Peadar Toner Mac Fhionnlaoich (5 October 1856 – 1 July 1942; ), known as Cú Uladh (''The Hound of Ulster''), was an

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

writer during the

Gaelic revival The Gaelic revival () was the late-nineteenth-century national revival of interest in the Irish language (also known as Gaelic) and Irish Gaelic culture (including folklore, mythology, sports, music, arts, etc.). Irish had diminished as a sp ...

. He wrote stories based on

Irish folklore Irish folklore () refers to the folktales, balladry, music, dance and mythology of Ireland. It is the study and appreciation of how people lived. The folklore of Ireland includes banshees, fairies, leprechauns and other mythological creatures, ...

, some of the first Irish-language plays, and regular articles in most of the Irish language newspapers, such as ''

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. ...

''. His sons Eunan and Conor attended Patrick Pearse's school, St Endas, and took part in the 1916 rising. He was the uncle of politician and surgeon

Joseph McGinley Joseph Patrick McGinley (1894–1974) was an Irish Sinn Féin, and later Fine Gael, politician, general practitioner and surgeon. Early life He was born in Breenagh, Letterkenny in 1894. He was a nephew of Irish language author Peadar Toner Mac ...

Background

He was born as Peter Toner McGinley in Alt an Iarainn, Gleann tSúilí,

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...

to Micheal McGinley and Susan Toner in 1856. His sister Bridget Mc Ginley, was a poet who amongst other works penned the poem, 'the hills of Donegal'.He attended school locally until he was seventeen. He then attended

Blackrock College Blackrock College () is a voluntary day and boarding Catholic secondary school for boys aged 13–18, in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by French missionary Jules Leman in 1860 as a school and later became al ...

in Dublin for two years. On leaving school he entered into the

British Civil Service In the United Kingdom, the Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy or secretariat of Crown employees that supports His Majesty's Government, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government, which is led by a cabinet of ministers chosen ...

becoming an Inland Revenue officer. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Woods () and they had twelve children. He spoke Irish from an early age and kept an interest in the language throughout his life, first publishing an Irish language short story and poem in ''The Donegal Christmas Annual 1883''. It was not until 1895 while living in Belfast that he became involved in the Gaelic Movement.

Conradh na Gaeilge

The first meeting of the Ulster branch of the

Conradh na Gaeilge (; historically known in English as the Gaelic League) is a social and cultural organisation which promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide. The organisation was founded in 1893 with Douglas Hyde as its first president, when it emer ...

occurred in Mac Fhionnlaoich's house in 1895. From that point on, he became very involved in Conradh na Gaeilge and became the organisation's president on several occasions. He was a passionate supporter of Ulster Irish and set up Ardscoil Ultach in Belfast to teach Ulster Irish in response to Munster Irish which was dominant in the conradh at the time.

Seanad Éireann

Mac Fhionnlaoich was a member of

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann ( ; ; "Senate of Ireland") is the senate of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (defined as the house of representatives). It is commonly called the Seanad or ...

from 1938 to 1942 when he was

nominated by the Taoiseach A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

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 an American-born Irish statesman and political leader. He served as the 3rd President of Ire ...

Main works

* The Donegal Christmas Annual 1883 (ed.) – ''(Selection of short stories and poems in English and Irish from Donegal authors.)'' * Miondrámanna (1902) – ''(Three mini plays)'' * Handbook of Irish Teaching (1902) * An Pléidseam (1903) * Tá na Francaighe ar an Mhuir (1905) – ''(Play)'' * An Léightheoir Gaedhealach (1907) – ''(Irish language reader)'' * Eachtra Aodh Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill (1911) – ''(Folklore)'' * Conchubhar Mac Neasa (1914) – ''(Folklore)'' * Ciall na Sean-Ráidhte (1914). Republished as: Ciall na Seanráite (1992). New edition edited by Seán Mac Aindreasa. * An Cogadh Dearg agus Scéalta Eile (1918) – ''(Short stories)'' * Scríobhnóirí Móra Chúige Uladh 1530–1750 (1925) – ''(Authors of Ulster)'' * Bliain na hAiséirí (1992). Edited by Éamon Ó Ciosáin – ''(1916

Easter Rising The Easter Rising (), 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 aim of establishing an ind ...

)''

References

External links

www.archive.org – Handbook of Irish Teachingwww.archive.org – Conchubhar Mac Neasa
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mac Fhionnlaoich, Peadar Toner 1856 births 1942 deaths Conradh na Gaeilge presidents Writers from County Donegal Members of the 2nd Seanad Members of the 3rd Seanad Nominated members of Seanad Éireann Independent members of Seanad Éireann People educated at Blackrock College Irish-language writers Politicians from County Donegal 19th-century Irish writers 20th-century Irish writers