Conradh na Gaeilge greatly laments the passing of Nollaig Ó Gadhra, former president and a dedicated member of the Conradh. He died at home last night, Wednesday 13 August 2008, in County Galway. Both the staff and members of the Conradh send heartfelt condolences to his widow Máirín, to his children Máirín, Dáithí and Siobhán, and to all his family and friends. Conradh na Gaeilge's offices at Árus na nGael, 45 Dominic Street, Galway and 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 will be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect.
The wake will be held in the house from 6.00pm tonight and prayers will be said at 10.00pm. The funeral will be held in Furbogh church at 1.00pm tomorrow, Friday 15 August 2008, and he will be buried in Reilig an Chnoic.
Nollaig showed great courage throughout the duration of his illness and he inspired us all with his strength of spirit. He was a kind, compassionate man full of drive, determination and innovation in every aspect of his promotion of the Irish language. He never hesitated to speak out or to take on the difficult task of defending the rights of Irish speakers, and he motivated many others to play active roles in the language movement.
He was educated in St. Mary's Secondary School in Dromcolliher, County Limerick (1957 - 1960) and in De La Salle Boarding School in Waterford (1960 - 1962). He attended University College Cork between 1962 and 1966 and graduated with a BA in Irish and History, in addition to a Higher Diploma in Education. He was based in Dublin from 1966 to 1969, working as a journalist for the Irish language publication Inniu and for RTÉ.
He attended Havard University in America in 1969 and cites R. A. Breathnach, Seán A. Ó Murchú (Professor John A. Murphy as he is better known nowadays), and Noam Chomsky among the principal influences on him during his time studying there.
He began working as a journalist with the Irish language paper Inniu in 1966. The following year, he joined the RTÉ news team and was current affairs producer until 1969. Between 1970 and 1972 he worked as Information Officer with Gaeltarra Éireann and afterwards as Publicity Manager with Ireland West Tourism in Galway until 1974. He was appointed to the post of lecturer for Irish, Communications, European Studies/Modern History in Galway Regional Technical College in 1974 and worked there for the remainder of his professional life. He was named as a member of the Comhairle Theilifís na Gaeilge in 1994.
While he published a number of short stories and a couple of poems, he was more inclined to informative writing and reporting. For many years he was the only major contributor to this literary genre as Gaeilge. He turned his hand to writing biographies of the lives of Gandhi (Dublin: Cló Mórainn, 1969); John Boyle O'Reilly (Dublin: FNT, 1976); Éamann Iognáid Rís (Dublin: FNT, 1977); and Richard J. Daley, Mayor of Chicago (Dublin: FNT, 1979).
The latter biography is counted as one of the most comprehensive biographies ever written in Irish. Among the other books he wrote are Guth an phobail (Dublin: FNT, 1984); Ríocht roinnte (Dublin: FNT, 1985); Éire agus polaitíocht na hEorpa (Dublin: FNT, 1986); Margail na saoirse (Dublin: FNT, 1988); An chéad Dáil Éireann (1919-1921) (Dublin: Coiscéim, 1989); An Ghaeltacht (oifigiúil) agus 1992? (Dublin: Coiscéim, 1990); and Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo (Dublin: Clódhanna Teoranta, ). In recent years he was known for his frequent commentary on the effect of European policies on this country. Some of his essays won awards at Oireachtas na Gaeilge down through the years and he was awarded the Butler Prize for Literature by the Irish American Cultural Institute in 1982.
He was a dedicated member of Conradh na Gaeilge for many years, and an active member of the executive committee. He was President of the Conradh from 2004 to 2005, during which time the Conradh's campaign to have the Irish language recognised as an official language of the European Union was underway. He was presented with Gradam an Phiarsaigh in April 2007, an award he received for upholding the values and ideals of Patrick Pearse in his work.
May God grant him eternal rest among the saints and give us all the courage to follow both his good example and his vision for the Irish language. R.I.P.
Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh, President of Conradh na Gaeilge
More information regarding funeral arrangements:
Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha
Timire Náisiúnta, Conradh na Gaeilge
091 567824 / 087 4188050
Síne Nic an Ailí
Feidhmeannach Forbartha, Conradh na Gaeilge
01 4757401 / 087 6546673
