Ó Criomhthain, Tomás.

An tOileánach [The Islandman]. Scéal a bheatha féin a scríobh Tomás Ó Criomhthain. An Seabhac a chuir i n-eagar. [His own life story, written by Tomás Ó Criomhthain. Edited by An Seabhac].

Baile Átha Cliath, Clólucht an Tálbóidigh Teór., no year (c.1945). Octavo. 266 pages. Original Hardcover (without dustjacket). Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. From the library of one Donal O’Callaghan (Donall Ó Ceallacháin). With some markings and handwritten annotations in the text by subsequent owner, Reverend P. Walsh.

Tomás Ó Criomhthain (anglicised as Tomas O’Crohan or Thomas O’Crohan; 21. December 1856–1937) was a native of the Irish-speaking Great Blasket Island 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) off the coast of the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. He wrote two books, Allagar na h-Inise (Island Cross-Talk) written over the period 1918–23 and published in 1928, and An t-Oileánach (The Islandman), completed in 1923 and published in 1929.
His books are considered classics of Irish-language literature containing portrayals of a unique way of life, now extinct, of great human, literary, linguistic, and anthropological interest. His writing is vivid, absorbing and delightful, full of incident and balance, fine observation and good sense, elegance and restraint.
He began to write down his experiences in diary-letters in the years after World War I following persistent encouragement by Brian Ó Ceallaigh from Killarney. Ó Ceallaigh overcame Ó Criomhthain’s initial reluctance by showing him works by Maxim Gorky and Pierre Loti, books describing the lives of peasants and fishermen, to prove to Ó Criomhthain the interest and value of such a project. Once persuaded, Ó Criomhthain sent Ó Ceallaigh a series of daily letters for five years – a diary – which the latter forwarded to scholar and writer Pádraig “An Seabhac” Ó Siochfhradha for editing for publication. Ó Ceallaigh then convinced Ó Criomhthain to write his life story and best-known work, An t-Oileánach. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: Dingle Peninsula · Gaeilge · Gaelic · Great Blasket Islands
• Language: Gaeilge
• Inventory Number: 31324AB

EUR 195,--