Deposited Collections

Biographical History

Born in County Armagh in 1914, Ó Duibhginn became involved in republican activity from an early age; was imprisoned in Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast for membership of the IRA when he was nineteen; and was interned in the Curragh Camp during World War II. He was also a member of the radical Irish language political movement, Ailtirí na hAiséirighe. A writer by inclination, it took some time for his career to flourish. He worked as a labourer in Liverpool in the late 1930s and, on his return to Ireland, as a handyman. During his internment in the Curragh he learnt Irish from the renowned author Máirtín Ó Cadhain; and later undertook a certificate in Irish language and literature in Trinity College Dublin where Ó Cadhain was one of his lecturers. In 1954, he was instrumental in the foundation of An Clóchomhar Tta, an Irish language publishing house, and as chairperson of Coiste na Leabhar (The Books’ Committee), he oversaw the publication of works from authors such as Máirtín Ó Díreáin, Seán Ó Tuama and Dónall MacAmhlaigh. His own publishing career began properly in 1960 when he edited the Irish ballad ‘Dónall Óg’. This was followed by two other scholarly works (An Muircheartaigh, 1970 and Séamus MacGiollaChoille, 1972) and two autobiographies (Ag Scaoileadh Sceoil, 1962 and Tuairisc, 1982). Ó Duibhginn was an Irish language advocate and a member of Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, and Bórd na Leabhar Gaeilge. He was employed as part-time editor of Feasta, the official journal of Conradh na Gaeilge until 1963 when he took a full-time post as Irish language editor for the Irish Press group and contributed weekly columns, ‘An Mhuintir Seo Againne’ and ‘I Mo Thuairimse’. He retired in 1979 and died in 1994.

Archival History

The collection was deposited in UCDA in 1999 by Seosamh Ó Duibhginn’s daughter, Mrs Niamh Barrett.

Scope and Content

Political material from his membership of the IRA, of Ailtirí na hAiséirighe and from his internment in the Curragh Camp during World War II. Drafts of his own publications, correspondence relating to their publication, research material, and press cuttings of his articles. Files of minutes of Conradh na Gaeilge annual general meetings; files of minutes from meetings of the board of Feasta; correspondence, submissions and press cuttings relating to his editorship of Feasta. Minutes of meetings, correspondence and financial accounts of Bórd na Leabhar Gaeilge. Annual reports and minutes of meetings of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge; magazines published by An Club Leabhar (Cló, An Léitheoir); pamphlets and booklets published by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge. Material connected to the foundation of An Clóchomhar Tta; minutes of meetings of Coiste na Leabhar and An Clóchomnhar Tta; submissions and edited drafts of works from major Irish language authors and scholars. Letters from a range of Irish language writers, commentators and activists. Correspondence files on various Irish language related subjects. Photographs of Irish language authors.

• Access: Available by appointment to holders of a UCD Archives reader's ticket. Produced for consultation in microform. 
• Language: Irish, occasional English
• Finding aid: Descriptive catalogue