Pádraic Ó Conaire (1882-1928)

I nGaillimh, i bhFeabhra na bliana 1882, a rugadh Patrick Joseph Conroy. D'fhás sé aníos i gceantar Gaeltachta Chonamara tar éis bhás anabaí a chuid tuismitheoirí. Fuair sé a chuid oideachais i gcoláistí Charn Tobair agus na Carraige Duibhe. Chuaigh sé sa Státseirbhís i Londain sa mbliain 1900 agus bhí sé ina bhall de Chonradh na Gaeilge. Le litríocht na Rúise, na Fraince agus na Lochlannach ina ábhar inspioráide aige, thosaigh sé ag scríobh gearrscéalta agus drámaí go neamhbhalbh i nGaeilge faoina ainm Gaeilge, Pádraic Ó Conaire. Bhuaigh a chuid saothair go leor gradaim éagsúla agus foilsíodh iad i nuachtáin agus i bhfoirm leabhair. Tháinig sé ar ais go hÉirinn in 1915 agus chaith sé na blianta deireanacha dá shaol i nGaillimh. Bhásaigh sé i mBaile Átha Cliath i nDeireadh Fómhair 1928 agus cuireadh é i Reilig an Bhóthair Mhóir i nGaillimh. Nocht Éamon de Valera dealbh chuimhneacháin aolchloiche leis an dealbhóir Albert Power ar an bhFaiche Mhór i mí an Mheithimh 1935. Ba é seo an chéad dealbh riamh in Éirinn a tiomnaíodh do scríbhneoir Gaeilge, agus bhí an-tóir ar an dealbh i nGaillimh. Baineadh an cloigeann den dealbh sa mbliain 1999. Deisíodh é agus bogadh ón láthair sin é ansin chun é a choinneáil slán. Nocht Uachtarán na hÉireann Micheál D. Ó hUiginn an mhacasamhail chré-umha seo i mí na Samhna 2017. Is féidir an bunsaothar a fheiceáil i Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe., Born Patrick Joseph Conroy in Galway in February 1882, Pádraic Ó Conaire was raised in Irish-speaking Conamara following the untimely deaths of his parents. Educated at Rockwell and Blackrock colleges, he joined the Civil Service in London in 1900 and became a member of the Gaelic League. Inspired by Russian, French, and Scandinavian literature, he began to write hard-hitting short stories and plays in the Irish language under his Irish name, Pádraic Ó Conaire. His work won multiple awards and was published in newspapers and in book form. He returned to Ireland in 1915 and spent his final years in Galway. He died in Dublin in October 1928 and was buried in Bohermore Cemetery, Galway. A limestone memorial statue by sculptor Albert Power was unveiled in Eyre Square in June 1935 by Irish leader Éamon de Valera. The first statue in Ireland to an Irish-language writer, it became a beloved Galway landmark. It was decapitated in 1999 and afterwards repaired and moved for safekeeping. This bronze replica was unveiled by Irish President Michael D Higgins in November 2017. The original may be seen at Galway City Museum.