Paul O’Longain. 1801-1866.
Paul O’Longain. 1801-1866.
Paul was the first to go to Dublin. He was employed by the Royal Irish Academy until his death, on August 18th, 1866. It was he also who taught Irish to the nineteenth century patriot, Thomas Davis. Kate Langan (who may have been married to McInerney) of Tullyglass, Glin, reared Peter and Paul. Thomas F. Culhane (‘Launey’) has referred to this in a letter to Garreth Hayes dated 8/12/1954 as told to him by Johnny Hayes and that story is verifiable as the twins were born on November 31st 1801 in Cork a year before Michael Og and his family moved to West Limerick. We know that Michael returned to Cork circa 1806 but his family did not join him ‘till 2yrs later. I am of the opinion that Kate was a grandaunt to the said twins as their father Michael Og was an only son. Kate was either married to a McInerney or just staying in the McInerney home, of the same family, one of whom undertook the daunting feat of swimming the river Shannon from Glin across to Clare for the prize of a bottle of brandy hence the nickname of one of their descendents Paddy ‘Brandy’ McInerney. Patsy Scanlan lived in the place thereafter. Patsy’s descendants still occupy the holding. Bridgie McInerney born circa 1880 was married to Patsy Scanlan’s father. Bridgie’s father’s name was Tom McInerney a first cousin to John McInerney. John had a son Dave who in turn had a son Paddy who wasmarried to my aunt Maureen Langan of Glenagragra. Sean O’Dalaigh, in 1846 in a letter to Windele the aforementioned antiquarian said ‘I met Paul Long in Kilkenny on his way to Dublin with about an assload of Irish manuscripts wherever he made them out’
From around 1817 to 1820 he was translating for the Bishop John Murphy and for a James Roche. From 1820 he carried on his work in several places around Cork, in a school, a farmer’s house in Glanmire and after that with his brother Peter, (Peadar.) He set up home in Chnoc Bui (Knockboy) in 1822.
He was back again in Cork in 1847 as we can see from a letter to Windele dated July 30th that same year. The letter was from an tAthair Ciniféic ón Teampall Geal –
‘Dear Sir, I beg to inform you that Peter and Paul Long,
our Irish scribes, are at present in very great distress. As this is a
moment in which every Christian is doing works of charity and
beneficence even to those who have not merited it, I hope that you may
do something to relieve them in their present difficulties. They are
expecting the office of interpreters at the forthcoming elections. As a
great deal is in your power, I recommend them to your charity.’
Paul wrote seven translations for the said priest between 1840 and 1850. He was employed by the R.I.A in the year 1854. Paul O’Longain went to his ,eternal reward August 18th 1866 at 24 North Summer, St Dublin 1.
Notes for PAUL O’LONGÁN:
Paul known as Pól was twin brother to Peter known as Peader. They were both scribes as was their younger brother Seosamh (Joseph ) All three brothers used both the Irish and Engluish form of the name or a combination . Such as Joseph Long or Paul O’Longan. Paul was a schoolteacher and remained a bachelor . It would appear that he lived later on with his brother Joseph in 24 Nth Summer St close to Mountjoy Square in Dublin.
In relation to Johnny Hayes above –
Johnny Hayes of Tullyglass was a relative of the O’Longains, his grandmother being a daughter of Sean O’Longain of Glenagragra and a sister to Tom (Captain Steele) Langan. Johnny, who was a great seanachai was born circa 1840 and was married to Margaret Wallace an aunt of Paddy Wallace senior, Tullyleague. Johnny’s son Daniel married Kate Woods, daughter of Jeremiah Woods and Mary Windle. Kate Woods was a 1st cousin to Nora ‘Norrie’ Woods who was married to my great grandfather Tom Langan.
Johnny Hayes told ‘Launey’ that when Michael MacPeadair O’Longain was near his death he wrote a poem, one of the verses, which went as follows:
‘From far off Glin, if my relatives come,
They may wish to stop at this monument,
Take from me,
They will find me, motionless, in a narrow coffin
In the bright Church, beside the road.’
The last of the Hayes’s in Tullyglass was Dan Hayes Jnr., who died in the 1970’s. He was unmarried. A Breen man from West Kerry either took over or bought the place and built a house there circa 1980.
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