Book takes a fresh look at life of an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire

A NEW bilingual biography on an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire is seeking to take a fresh look at the life of the celebrated author who wrote such books as Séadna and Mo Scéal Féin, in anticipation of the centenary of his death in 2020.

Written by Durrus author Éilís O’Brien and her son Pat, Mise an Mac San: (I am that Son) – remembering an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire was launched last Sunday evening at the Abbey Hotel in Ballyvourney.

Former RTÉ Morning Ireland presenter and broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille, who is a distant descendant of an tAthair Peadar, officially launched the book.

‘It’s a tale of two parishes on opposite ends of the Cloyne diocese, Macroom, where an tAthair Peadar was born and, and Castlelyons where he became parish priest in 1891,’ said Éilís O’Brien.

‘The book also mentions former editor and columnist of The Southern Star, Peadar Ó hAnnracháin, who draws on his account of his visits to an tAthair Peadar in Castleyons, where he was the parish priest for 30 years. This book offers a timely reminder of a fascinating character,’ she said.

It was while based in Castlelyons that an tAthair Peadar –  who was a keen supporter of the Gaelic revival – wrote his best known work, Séadna, which was published in 1904 and was intended to provide reading material for learners of Irish. 

An tAthair followed this up with an autobiography entitled Mo Scéal Féin in 1915, before he died in 1920.

For those who could not make the launch last Sunday, there will be another one at Castlelyons Community Centre on March 4th and in Cork Public Museum on March 24th.

Mise an Mac San: Remembering an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire will go on sale from the end of March and will be available in most bookshops, at €15.