Collection G40 - The Papers of Proinsias Mac an Bheatha

14 boxes

Francis McVeigh was born in Belfast on 16 November 1910 and raised at first in Killough, Bangor (county Down), and Belfast. His father died when he was very young, and in 1922, in a serious outbreak of sectarian violence targetting also the McVeigh househ

This collection was deposited in February 2007 in the archives of the National University of Ireland, Galway, by Proinsias Mac an Bheatha's family.

The bulk of the papers covers a period of fifty years. All material contained in the collection illustrates Mac an Bheatha's two main private areas of interest: that in the development of the Irish language, and that in the labour and trade union movements. The papers contain large sections of press cuttings - non-archival sources described mostly at item level because a broad picture of his work and interests would not emerge were these dealt with too summarily.

Involvement with Craobh na hAiséirí: administrative material (membership lists, constitution, accounts, correspondence.

Involvement with Glúin na Bua/Glún na Buaidhe: administrative material (membership lists, constitution, accounts, correspondence.

Involvement with "Inniu": administrative material (accounts, correspondence), copies of "Indiu/Inniu", press cuttings relating to the development of the paper.

Involvement with Foilseacháin Náisiúnta Teo.: administrative material (business reports, correspondence).

Involvement with Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge: press cuttings, publications, correspondence).

Private correspondence (not relating to specific monograph publications): mostly letters from friends, members of the public, colleagues, often concerning his publications in preparation or in review. Isolated items of correspondence with members of the academic and literary Irish-speaking community, such as Liam MacMathúna, Muiris Ó Droighneáin, Ciarán Ó Coigligh, and Gabriel Rosenstock. Notable correspondence: 7 items of correspondence from (later Cardinal) Tomás Ó Fiaich; 7 from Róisín Ní Mheara.

Mac an Bheatha's own press work (except in relation to Ulster poets): drafts, fair copies, press cuttings of his work for "Inniu", "An tUltach", "The Irish Times", "The Irish Press", "The Irish News", most extensive for 1971-1973 and 1988-1990.Usually personal reflections in format of 'personal column' with recurrent themes of Irish language policies and culture, trade unionism.

Ulster writers: collection of printed works by and about Seosamh Mac Grianna, correspondence and accounts relating to personal relations with MacGrianna, drafts and faircopies for press and radio work on Mac Grianna and Ulster writers.

Mac an Bheatha's monograph publications and drafts of unpublished material: research notes, correspondence, drafts and fair copies, press cuttings (reviews) pertaining to Mac an Bheatha's 13 book publications; drafts for two translations of monographs, and a short play (unpublished).

Collection of press cuttings: recurrent themes of Irish history, language, socialism; notable cuttings on the Language Freedom Movement events 1966; documents concerning life of Ó Fiaich.

Collection of pamphlets, book (1898-1979): emphasis on the Irish language, and on trade unionism (excepting pamphlets on James Connolly).

Notebooks, songs and poetry, research, programmes etc: notably notes from interview with first president of the Republic Denis McCullough; programme for opening of Liberty Hall in 1965 with trade union member signatures; Butler and Shaughnessy awards ceremony programme 1971 with signatures.

The collection is in good physical condition. Arrangement was mostly imposed, although most of the press-cuttings (both by Mac an Bheatha and other authors) were found together, as was the material for book publications. The arrangement falls broadly into

This collection is available to all bone fide researchers, and subject to the conditions of access governing consultation of archival material at the James Hardiman Library. For a full statement of these conditions see: http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/res
Open

Descriptive List

192

Catalog

27-06-2013
08-07-2025