A list of known recordings of Irish from areas that are now no longer Gaeltachtaí, where the language has died. If a recording exists it is linked here in some way, if it exists but I haven't access to it or permission to share it then I mark it so.
I've listed by county and by roughly the dialect regions in that county. As far as I know, there are no recordings from Limerick, Down, Fermanagh, or any Leinster county excluding Kilkenny and Louth.
This list is not extensive by any means, please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Antrim
- The Glens (na Glinn)
- Brian Mac Amhlaoibh from Clonreagh, Glenariff. 1931
- Michael McKiernan from Knocknacarry, Layd. 1931
- Rathlin
- Bella McKenna. The audio exists but I have no access to it.
- Deniel McCurdy/Domhnall Mac Mhuircheartaigh.
- Robert McCormack. 1960
Armagh
- Tommy Hollywood/Tomás Mac Cuilleanáin from Carrive, Glenarm. 1949. Oíche na Gaoithe Móire.
- Tommy Hollywood. Reciting a version of this poem.
- Tommy was not exactly a native speaker but did learn Irish when he was young from native speakers in his area.
- Máire Ní Arbhasaigh from Clonalig, Crossmaglen. 1931.
Cavan,
- Seán Mag Uidhir (Seán Éamuinn Ruaidhrí) from Legnagrow, Glangevlin. 1931. More info about Cavan Irish here.
Clare wip
Cork wip
- Beara Peninsula (Béarra)
- Séamus Ó Scolaí from Crossterry. 1928.
- Pádraig Ó Sé from Ardgroom. 1928
- Pádraig Ó hArachtáin from Adrigole. 1928
- Mícheál Ó Laoghaire from Cloghfune. 1928
- Proinnsias Ó Súilleabháin from Adrigole. 1928
- all of the above come from the Doegen archive
- Carbery (Cairbre)
- Cork section of the Glór archive from DIAS
- Pádraig Ó Madaoi from Courtmacsherry.
- Séamas Ó Dúgáin from Clonakilty.
- Mícheál de Búrca from Clonakilty.
- Pádraig Ó Donnabháin from Clonakilty.
- Tomás Ó Seasnáin from Skibbereen
- Pádraig Ó Ríogáin, Domhnall Ó Gormáin, Séamus Mac Carthaigh from Brulea, Glandore (Brú Liath, Cuan Dor).
- Mary Scully from Bantry.
- Pat Harrington from Garinish.
- What I saw of the transcripts was not good and no dates were given. The recordings for Mary Scully and Pat Harrington are given entries but there is no audio. The three men from Brulea all appear in the same two recordings so they're listed together
- Imokilly (East Cork, Uí Mhic Coille)
- Séamus Breathnach from Knockadoon. 1928
- Muiris Paor, Séamas Breatnach, Mícheál Ó Drisceoil, Seán Bateman, Mícheál Breatnach from Knockadoon. From the same Glór archive as above.
Derry,
- Eilis Ní Chléircín from Glengomna, Ballynascreen. 1931. The notes say she is L2.
- Ciarán Ó Duibhín in Tagairtí do Ghaedhilg Oirthear Uladh suggests two additional recordings, both of which may be lost,
UFTM Sound Archive (A number of tapes in English from Draperstown and Park areas. See particularly R85.48 (Linda Ballard with James O'Kane, Park).).
Gerry Stockman with Mrs Joe Gaynor (Taeip a rinne Gerry Stockman den chainteoir a luaidheann Adams in "Ulster Dialects" p. 130. Níl fagháil ar an taeip seo anois.).
Donegal, wip
Galway, wip
Kilkenny
- Pádraig de Paor from Glenmore. 1936. I have the audio but not permission to share it. It may be accessed through the UCD National Folklore Archive.
- Margaret Cody from Mullinakill, Coolnahau. 1933. This recording probably has been lost, read more here.
Leitrim
- Jane Feely from Crumpaun, Glenade. 1930.
Louth wip
- Recordings done by RTÉ
- Anna Uí Annluain and Pete Sloane from Omeath. The audio is to be heard at around 37 and 40 minutes in. "Sometime in the mid 60s" according to the podcast.
- Anna Uí Annluain. 1961. Possibly a different shortened version of the same audio with Pete Sloane.
- Anna Uí Annluain. Another different version of the same audio with transcript and notes. MP3 is available separately here.
- RTÉ archives are not interested in sharing the full audio.
- Recordings on the Doegen Records Web Project
- Brian Mac Cuarta from Omeath 1931.
- Brighid Ní Chaslaigh from Omeath. 1931.
- Cáit Ní Ghuibhirín from Omeath. 1931.
- South West (between Newport and Achill)
- Brighid Ní Mháille from Rosturk, Westport. 1930.
- Liam Ó Móráin from Rosturk, Westport. 1930.
- Tomás Ó Ceallaigh from Rockfleet, near Rosturk, Westport. 1930.
- East (along the boundary with Sligo)
- Seán Ó Lachtnáin from Rinnananny, Foxford. Before 2014.
- It seems Seán was not exactly a native speaker but did learn Irish when he was young from native speakers in his area.
- Aindréas Ó Ceallacháin from Carrowbeg, Kilmovee. 1930.
- Tomás Ó Dubhthaigh from Lurga Lower, Kilmovee. Info with the date has been lost but presumably 1930
- South (near Tourmakeady)
- Éamonn Ó Murchadha from Cahernagollum, Ballinrobe. 1930.
- Seán Ó Gioballáin from Kildun, Ballinrobe. 1930
Monaghan
- If any recording does exist, possibly from Máire Mac Mathúna with Éamon Ó Tuathail in 1931.
Roscommon
Sligo
- North Sligo
- Seán Ó Coisdealbha from Moneygold, Grange. 1930.
- Joe Neilan from (Maugherow?). A recording by RTÉ was done of Joe possibly speaking some phrases or reciting some lines which I can no longer find. A different recording of Joe describing the language situation in English from 1970 can be found in this video around 2 minutes in.
- South Sligo
- Doegen recordings. All 1930. All except Séan Ó Coisdealbha are South Sligo.
- Tomás Ó Cearbhaill from Letterbrone, Aclare.
- Pádraig Ó hEadhra from Letterbrone, Aclare.
- Seán Mac an Déisigh from Culdaly, Aclare.
- Brigid McEvey/Mhic a' Bheithigh from Curry, Achonry.
Tipperary
- Séamas Ó Liathain from Curragh, Ballybacon. 1928. Two recordings from Doegen.
- Séamus Ó Maolchathaigh from Crohan, Ballybacon. ~1960s. Author of An Gleann is a Raibh Ann.
- Micheál Ó Maoldomhnaigh (and Pádraig Ó Muiríosa?) from Newcastle, Clonmel. ~late 1950s. Not sure who Ó Muiríosa is.
Tyrone wip
- Muintir Luinigh (Munterlony, North Tyrone)
- John Carolan from Glenhull, Greencastle. 1951.
- Eoin Ó Cianáin from Creggan, Greencastle. 1929
- Doegen recordings
- Jane Nic Ruaidhrí from Leckin, Gortin. 1931
- Eoin Ó Cianáin from Greencastle. 1931
- West Tyrone
- Doegen recordings
- Pádraig Ó Gallchobhair from Tulnashane, Termonamongan. 1931.
- Máire Mhic Daeid/McDaid from Tullycar, Termonamongan. 1931.
Where is Kerry?
ReplyDeleteKerry is in Ireland 👍
DeleteKerry isn't mentioned in the article. Are all dialects of Kerry Irish still surviving? What about North Kerry? The Black Valley? East Kerry? The Kerry part of the Beara peninsula?
Delete"A Charlie O'Leary is cited as the last native speaker of Irish in Sliabh Luachra".
ReplyDeletehttps://rushymountain.com/the-top-40-sliabh-luachra-polkas/
*In the book Stone Mad for Music, a Charlie O’Leary is cited as the last native speaker of Irish in Sliabh Luachra.
DeleteMike McCarthy mentioned as last native speaker in Tuosist Co. Kerry in Kenmare News.
ReplyDeleteKenmare News
http://kenmarenews.biz › Issu...PDF
kenmare news
Mícheál Mac Cárthaigh from Glentrasna in Tuosist, South Kerry.
Deletehttps://www.jstor.org/stable/30096053
John Cregan, reputed to be the last native Irish speaker in Gortnacrehy Co. Limerick, was born on this night during the Night of the Big Storm in 1839.
ReplyDeletehttps://vinhanley.com/2022/11/01/a-historical-sketch-of-knockaderry-fron-early-christian-times-to-the-great-famine/
Frank Roche (1866–1961) from Elton near Knocklong said to be last native speaker in Co. Limerick.
ReplyDeleteCORE
https://core.ac.uk › pdfPDF
Frank Roche – fiddler, dancer, and music collector
Recording of Máire Ní Shé in the 1980s, last native speaker from Valentia Island.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/cartlann-bh%C3%B3thar/m%C3%A1ire-n%C3%AD-sh%C3%A9-cainteoir-yJ_KxYh1DtP/