Kerry native Pádraig Ua Maoileoin (1913-2002), is best known as an Irish language writer, poet, editor, and lexicographer. This archive consists of digital copies of original documents, available to consult on the University's Digital Library or in the Special Collections and Archives Reading Room. It contains drafts of some of Ua Maoileoin's published works, consisting of his fiction, essays, articles, poetry, and talks, and including extracts from 'Ár Leithéidí Arís', 'Iomairí Críche' and 'Na Blascaodaí'. It also includes correspondence between Ua Maoileoin and his publisher, Sáirséal agus Dill and others. This collection also contains 138 photographs of people, landscapes, seascapes and buildings of the Blasket Islands and the Dingle Peninsula, county Kerry, as well as some later colour images of Ua Maoileoin. Ua Maoileoin was born in Dún Chaoin, county Kerry, into a literary family. His maternal grandfather was Tómas Ó Criomhthain (1855-1937), renowned author of 'An tOileánach'. Ua Maoileoin served as a member of An Garda Síochána until his retirement in 1965, rising to the rank of sergeant. In the 1950s he was invited to write a series of talks entitled 'Athchuaird ar Chorca Dhuibhne' for Radió Éireann. This series was the basis for Ua Maoileoin's first book 'Na hAird Ó Thuaidh', published in 1960, by Sáirséal agus Dill. This was followed by his first novel 'Bríde Bán, published in 1968. 'An Bóna Óir' and 'De Réir Uimhreacha', an account of his time with An Garda Síochana, both followed in 1969. 'Ár Leithéidí Arís' and 'Fonn a Níos Fiach', a novella based on Connemara folktales, were published in 1978, and in 1982 he won the Oireachtais award for his novel 'Ó thuaidh'. His later works included 'Na Blascaodaí' (1994), Macadúna (2000), and booklets 'Dúlra Duibhneach' (2000) and 'An Stát versus Dugdale' (2001). Ua Maoileoin also worked as lexicographer on the Foclóir Gaeilge- Béarla, completed in 1977 and was employed as an editor with Irish language publisher, An Gúm.
Statement on Harmful Language: We are committed to updating and revising our descriptive language in relation to: identifying instances of racism, sexism, ableism and other forms of discrimination proposing changes and replacing inappropriate language introduced during legacy descriptive practices researching how communities describe themselves and using contemporary/current language respectful to the people and events reflected in our holdings If you encounter language in finding aids, catalogue records of archival holdings, digitised collections, exhibitions, etc., that you find problematic, offensive or harmful, or if you have questions or concerns, we welcome your feedback. Please see: https://nuim.libwizard.com/f/harmful-language
