Énrí Ó Muirgheasa (also spelled , , and ; ) (14 January 1874 – 13 August 1945), was an Irish civil servant, Irish language scholar, folklore collector, historian and writer.
Early life and family Ó Muirgheasa was born in Cashlan East, Lisdoonan, Donaghmoyne, County Monaghan on 14 January 1874. He was a son of Lúcas Ó Muirgheasa, a farmer, and Máire Nic Ward. He attended Lisdoonan school but learned to read and write Irish from his granduncle, Proinsias Ó Conghaile.
Ó Muirgheasa married harpist and fellow teacher, Eibhlín Ní Raghallaigh (Helen O'Reilley) of Dundalk in 1906. Their son, Colum, was born and died in 1907. Eibhlín died in 1908. In 1912, he remarried to Máire Woods from County Galway. Ó Muirgheasa died on 13 August 1945 in Strabane.
Career He was appointed monitor at Lisdoonan school in 1888, where he established the first Monaghan branch of the Gaelic League. Ó Muirgheasa graduated as a teacher from St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, in 1900, obtaining a teaching post at St. Malachy's, Dundalk, in 1901, where he was one of the founders of the Louth Historical and Archaeological Society in 1903. Ó Muirgheasa moved to Strabane, County Tyrone in 1907, where he organised the teaching of Irish in schools. He moved to Derry in 1912, and then became a school inspector in Skerries. In 1923, he was appointed a divisional inspector in Sligo, becoming deputy chief inspector in 1932.
His writings were published widely in both journals and newspapers.
Bibliography Books Greann na Gaedhilge, 1901 Seanfhocla Uladh, 1907 Ceithearnach Ui Dhomhnaill, 1912 Céad de Cheoltaibh Uladh, 1915 Abhráin Airt Mhic Chubhthaigh, 1916 Oíche áirneáil i dTír Chonaill, 1924 Amhrán na Midhe, 1933 Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh, 1934 Dánta Diadha Uladh, 1936 Edited books Amhráin na Midhe le hÉnrí Ó Muirgheasa, collected and arranged by Énrí Ó Muirgheasa, edited by Lesa Ní Mhunghaile. Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 2015 Dhá Chéad de Cheoltaibh Uladh, collected and edited by Énrí Ó Muirgheasa, arranged and translated by Robbi McMillen, Cló Seoighe, 2026.
References
External links The Énrí Ó Muirgheasa Project - song texts and bibliography Biography from Ainm.ie in Irish Ó Muirgheasa's entry on CODECS Ó Muirgheasa's collection in the National Library of Ireland