Stair Choláiste na Mumhan: Comóradh an Chéid le Máiréad Ní Mhurchú

History of Coláiste na Mumhan written for the 100th anniversary of its opening by Maireád Ní Mhurchú   

Ag deireadh na naoú aoise déag bhí modhanna múinte teangacha nua-aoiseacha in úsáid ar fud na Mór Roinne. B’iad “an mhodh Berlitz agus an mhodh Gouin”.1 Baineadh triail as an gcleas seo chun teangacha iasachta ar nós Fraincís agus Gearmáinís a mhúineadh i scoileanna i Sasana chomh maith. Thapaigh lucht Chonradh na Gaeilge an deis chun leas a bhaint as na modhanna teangacha nua-aoiseacha seo chun Gaeilge a chaomhnú agus a chur chun cinn in Eirinn.

Pléadh an scéal go hoscailte i measc lucht an Chonratha i Londain i dtús báire agus bhí díospóireacht faoin scéal ar an gClaidheamh Soluis. Ní modhanna múinte amháin a bhí ag déanamh imní don Chonradh ach easpa múinteoirí cáilithe. Bhí géar ghá le teagasoirí oilte. Ní raibh leigheas ar an scéal ach coláiste muinteoireachta a bhunú. “Bheartaíodar coláiste a chur ar bun chun cainteoirí Geilge a ullmhú i gcóir múineadh na teanga”.2 Gheall runaí an Chonratha Liam P Ó Riain go ndéanfadh sé infheistíocht ar an gcoláiste.

Deineadh an scéal a chíoradh ag comhdháil bhliaintiúil an Chonradh a bhi ar siúl sna seomraí cruinnithe i gCorcaigh ar an seú lá is fiche de Lunasa 1903 le linn Feis na Mumhan. Glacadh le rún ó Shán ó Cúiv ag an bhFeis agus aontaíodh go gcuirfí coláiste ar bun. Mheas craobh Dhún Mánmhaí gur cheart an coláiste a lonnú sa Ghuagán. Ach ní sa Ghuagán a lonnaíodh an coláiste de bharr easpa lóistín ach i mBéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh.

Toghadh Comhaltas mar seo a leanas ag comhdháil na Feise:
Cathaoirleach: An tAthair Pádraig Ó Muirthile,
Leaschathaoirleach: Pádraig Ó Séaghdha O.S,
Cisteoir: Micheál Ó Murchú,
Runaí: Liam de Róiste.

Bhí na daoine seo a leanas mar bhaill den chéad choiste freisin: An tAthair Aguistín, An tAthair Donnchadh Ó Drisceoil, An tAthair Seán Ó Conaill, Shán Ó Cúiv, Tadhg Ó Scannaill O.S. “Ina dteannta chomh maith bhí Ardeaspag Chaisil agus Easpaig uile na Mumhan mar phatrúin ar an gcoláiste ó 1905 amach”.3

Thárla an chéad chruinniú den chomhaltas ar an gceathrú lá d’Aibreán i nGrianán na nGaedheal i Sráid Phádraig i gCorcaigh. Bhi cursaí airgid gann ag an am. Chuir an cisteoir Micheál ó Murchú an ghéarchéim in iúl don chomhaltas. Lorgaíodh deontaisí is fuarthas amhlaidh ó cheann ceann na tíre. Bhí Rodger Casement i measc na síntiúsóirí agus lean sé den nós sin gach uile bhliain go dtí gur lámhachadh é.

Thárla an dara cruinniú den chomhaltas i mBéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, is do sheol an tAthair Augustín an chéad clár léinn i gcomhar leis na hollúna Diarmuid Ó Foghludha Ard-Ollamh agus an tAthair Risteard Ó Dálaigh Ollamh le fogharaíocht agus le Pádraig ó Séaghdha. Scríobhadh alt i nGaeilge sa Claidheamh Soluis ar an gceathrú lá de Mheitheamh 1904 faoin teideal Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh áit a thagair an tEagarthóir, Pádraig Mac Piarais do Bhéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh agus an méid oibre a bhí déanta ag lucht riartha an Choláiste:

“Ba mhaith linn go rachadh na sluaite ag triall ar an scoil seo, is táimid deimhnitheach de go mbeidh mórán ann. Ach ní hé siúd an fáth gur cuireadh an scoil ar bun. Scoil i gcomhair múinteoirí is ea í. Go deimhin, ba mhithid scoil éigin dá saghas a bheith againn… Tá múinteoirí Gaeilge againn faoi láthair ina lán áiteanna agus dá bhfaighidís Éire air, ní fhéadfaidís maithe a dhéanamh, toisc gan slí oiriúnach múinteoireachta a bheith acu. Ní foláir sli múinteoireachta a mhúineadh do na múinteoirí ar dtúis. Ansin dhéanfá a dhá oiread oibre gan a leath oiread dua á leanúint…

Má chuireann an coláiste an bhliain seo, an chéad bhliain, de go maith ní bheidh baol air. Go n-éirí le Fearghus is leis an dochtúir ó Dálaigh. Deanfaidh siad a gcionn féin ar aon chuma, agus feicfear toradh a saothar ar fud na hÉireann”.4

Bé an t Athair Pádraig ó Muirthille a chuir an t-áras ar fáil. Sean Scoil na mBuachaillí a bhí suite le hais an tséipéil a bhí mar ionad ag an gcoláiste. “Do chuireadh deich dtroigh sa bhreis leis an scoil agus do chuireadh slinn nua ar an scoil go léir”.5 Ba mhór an cabhair é ag an am go raibh an t-Uasal Tadhg ó Scannaill O.S ar an láthair chun gach ní a chur ina cheart. Ní raibh “An Craoibhín Aoibhinn” in ann bheith i láthair lá na hoscailte ach sheol sé teachtaireacht chuig na scoile chun a leithscéal a ghabháil:

“Is oth go mór liom gur éigean dom bheith láithreach ar chomhthionól eile lá bhur gcruinnithe agus ná tiocfaidh liom bheith i bhur bhfochair, faoi mar dob áil liom, le haghaidh tionscnamh Choláiste na Mumhan a bheidh ina thúr sonais is cónaigh don dúthaigh go léir. An méid seo atá deanta agaibh i mBéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh ar bhur ngustal féin is é an rud is éifeachtaí é dá ndearnadh fós san obair seo don Ghaeilge”.6

Nuair a osclaíodh an coláiste ar an gceathrú lá de mhí Iúil1904 ba mhór iad na Gaeilgeoirí aitheanta a bhí ar fhoireann teagaisc an Choláiste. Bhí Diarmaid Ó Foghludha an duine a scríobh “Go Mairidh ár nGaeilge Slán” mar Ard-Ollamh agus freisin i mbun modhanna múinte bhí an saineolaí teanga an tAthair Risteard Ó Dálaigh ina Ollamh le foghraíocht. Astrálach de bhunadh Éireannach ba ea é is bhí ar a laghad sé theanga ar eolas aige. Bhí an Dálach gníomhach roimhe sin ag riaradh scoil samhraidh sa Ghuagán. “Is ar na léachtaí a thug sé an t-am sin, ní foláir a bhunaigh sé a dhá leabhar leis The Sounds of the Irish language in Theory and Practice (1905) agus The Science of Phonetics (1908)”.7 Tharla go raibh dhá sheisiún an samhradh sin i gCólaiste na Mumhan ceann amháin i mí Iúil agus ceann eile ar siúl i mí Lunasa is deineadh freastal ar dhá shaghas scoláire, ábhar múinteoirí agus tosaitheoirí.

D’fhreastal tuairim is seasca macléinn ar an gcoláiste an bhliain sin. Gach bliain as sin amach go ceann roinnt blianta reachtáladh dhá sheisiún agus gach bliain mhéadaigh líon na mic léinn. Ó oscalaíodh dóirse Coláiste na Mumhan i mí Iúil 1904 mhéadaigh clú agus cáil an cheantair mar ionad oideachais, léinn agus Gaeilge ó shin i leith. “Sa bhliain 1905 d’fhreastal 101 macleinn, 124 macléinn i 1906, 171macléinn i 1907, 222 macléinn i 1908, 252 macléinn i 1909 agus 266 macléinn i 1910”.8

Bhain cuid de na scoláirí clú agus cáil amach níos déanaí, ina measc bhí Tomás Mac Donnchadha ceannaire Óglaigh na hÉireann agus gníomhaí 1916. Tomás Mac Curtain Ard Mhéara Chorcaí a maraíodh sa bhliain1920. Gan dabht bhí ainmneacha móra eile le rá ar an rolla freisin, ina measc bhí Brian Ó hUigín file agus scríbhneoir agus Padraig Ua Siochradha “An Seabhach” scríbhneoir.

Ba nós é ag lucht riartha an choláiste cuireadh a thabhairt chuig aíonna speisialta teacht chuig an coláiste chun léachtaí a thabhairt, ina measc tháinig An tAthair Pádraig Ó Duinnin scríobhneoir an foclóir Gaeilge /Béarla. D’fhear muintir na háite fíor chaoin fáilte roimh chách agus ba mhó cuairteoir cáiliúil a mhealladh chun na háite. Ina measc bhí Traolach Mac Suibhne, Risteard Ó Maolcatha agus Domhnall Ó Corcora.

Spreag an togra seo Gaeilgeoirí uile ar fud na tíre agus bunaíodh Colaistí eile go tiubh ina dhiaidh sin i gcontaethe ar nós Maigh Eo, Port Láirge, Dún na nGall agus Ciarraí.

Ag Feis na Mumhan na bliana sin, a tionóladh i gCill Áirne tugadh lán tacaíochta don togra. Cuireadh in iúl tuairimí dearfacha na scoláirí a fhreastal ar Choláiste na Mumhan an samhradh roimhe sin agus athceapadh an Comhaltas.

Chuaigh an Coláiste ó neart go neart ach ba leasc leis an gcomhaltas suí ar a sáimhín só agus sa bhliain 1908 chuaigh toscaireacht ó Bhéal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh go dtí cruinniú i gCill Áirne agus lorgaíodh tuilleadh síntiúisí chun coláiste nua a thógáil. Fuarthas an t-airgead le cabhair an tAthair Ó Dálaigh is tógadh an foirgneamh ar thalamh Chonchubhair Uí Liatháin Drom an Ailigh. Sa bhliain1914 críochnaíodh an foirgneamh agus d’oscail an tAthair Peadar Ó Laoghaire an t-ionad nua ar a nglaotar Halla an Chéilí air inniu.

Anois agus sinn ag druidim le comóradh an chéid níor cheart dúinn dearmad a dhéanamh ar na ceannródaithe gníomhacha a dhein gaisce agus éacht na blianta fada ó shin. Is mór againn a d’fhág siad le h-oidhreacht agus le huacht againn. Beannaímíd dóibh inniu agus molaimíd a bhfís agus a saothar. Go leanaí a gcáil i mbéalaibh na nglúinte a thiocfaidh in ár ndiaidh.

At the end of the 19th century, modern language teaching methods had become popular, the Berlitz and Gouin1 methods being the primary ones. Foreign language teaching of French and German in English schools used these methods as well. Conradh Na Gaeilge/The Gaelic League seized the opportunity these modern methods presented to preserve and promote Irish in Ireland.

The opportunities were discussed by Conradh members in London and through the pages of An Claidheamh Soluis. A lack of qualified teachers of Irish as well as the teaching methods were of concern to the membership. There was an urgent need for proficient, skilled instructors. The only solution was to establish a teacher training college. “It was decided to set up a college to prepare Irish speakers to teach the language”.2 The Treasurer of Conradh Na Gaeilge, Liam P. Ó Riain, gave an undertaking to fund the college.

The issue was delved into at the Conradh’s annual conference in their Cork meeting rooms on 26th August 1903 during the Munster Feis. A motion by Shán Ó Cúiv to set up a college was accepted. The Dunmanway Branch favoured the college being located in Guagán Barra. However, because Guagán lacked adequate accommodation, it was decided to set it up in Ballingeary instead.

The following Comhaltas (Committee) was elected at the conference:
Cathaoirleach: An tAthair Pádraig Ó Muirthile (Fr Hurley)
Leaschathaoirleach: Pádraig Ó Séaghdha OS
Cisteoir: Micheál Ó Murchú
Runaí: Liam de Róiste

The following were also members of the first Coiste: An tAthair Aguistín, An tAthair Donnchadh Ó Drisceoil, An tAthair Seán Ó Conaill, Shán Ó Cúiv, Tadhg Ó Scannaill O.S. “From 1905 The Archbishop of Cashel and all the Bishops of Munster were the Coláiste’s Patrons”.3

The first meeting of the committee took place on 4th April in Grianán na nGaedheal on Patrick Street, Cork. Money was scarce at the time. The treasurer, Micheál ó Murchú, brought this issue to the attention of the committee. Grants/donations were sought and thus procured from all around the country. Roger Casement was among the subscribers and he remained so every year until he was hanged.

The committee met for a second time in Ballingeary, and Father Augustin launched the first study programme, the teaching staff consisting of Diarmuid Ó Foghludha as the principal, Father Risteard Ó Dálaigh as the professor of phonetics and Pádraig ó Séaghdha. A piece was written in Irish in An Claidheamh Soluis on 4th June 1904 under the title ‘Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh’, which drew the attention of the editor, Pádraig Mac Piarais, to Ballingeary and the amount of work that had been done by those who were involved in the Coláiste.

“We’d love for crowds of people to come and try this school and we are positive that there will be plenty there. But that isn’t the reason the school was founded. It is a school for teachers. Certainly, it was high time we had a school like that… We currently have teachers of Irish in a lot of places and if they came to Ireland, they wouldn’t do any good because they have no suitable way to teach. First, we have to teach the teachers how to teach. Then we’ll do twice the work with half the effort…

If the Coláiste does well this first year, it will be in no danger. Good luck to Fearghus and to doctor ó Dálaigh. They’ll work it out anyway, and the result of their work will be seen throughout Ireland”.4

It was Father Pádraig ó Muirthille (Fr Hurley) who ultimately arranged a location. It was an old Boys’ School, situated next to the church, that became the site for the Coláiste. “The school was expanded by ten feet and new tiles/slates were put in for the whole building”.5 It was a great help at the time that Tadhg ó Scannaill was on hand to make sure everything was in its place. “An Craobhín Aoibhinn” (Douglas Hyde) was unable to attend the opening day, but he sent a message to the school by way of excuse:

“I sincerely regret that I must be present at a different meeting and that I will not be in the area as I had hoped for the opening of Coláiste na Mumhan, which will be a beacon of happiness and a relic of our ancestral land. The work you have done in Ballingeary of your own volition is the most effective thing that has been done so far for the Irish language”.6

When the college was opened on 4th July 1904, the recognised Irish speakers who were teaching at the school were fantastic. Diarmaid Ó Foghludha, the man who wrote ‘Go Mairidh ár nGaeilge Slán’, was the principal and was also behind the teaching techniques used at the college. The language expert was Father Risteard Ó Dálaigh, as professor of phonetics. He was an Australian with Irish roots, and he knew at least six languages. Dálaigh had been active before this, helping with the administration of a summer school in Guagán. “It is on study that he spent this time, and on this he must have based his two books, The Sounds of the Irish language in Theory and Practice (1905) and The Science of Phonetics (1908)”.7 There were two sessions that summer in Coláiste na Mumhan, one in July and the other in August, which focused on material for two different types of student, beginners and teachers.

Around sixty students attended the college that year. Every year from then on, the number of students increased, and many years the college had two sessions. From the opening of the college in June 1904, the fame of the area as a hub of education, study and the Irish language increased from then onwards. “In 1905, 101 students attended, 124 students in 1906, 171 students in 1907, 222 students in 1908, 252 students in 1909 and 266 students in 1910”.8

Several of the students became famous later on; among them was Tomás Mac Donnchadha (Thomas MacDonagh), a leader of the Volunteers who also played a part in the events of 1916, and Tomás Mac Curtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, who was killed in 1920. There were other big names to be seen on the roll, including Brian Ó hUigín, a poet and writer, and Pádraig Ua Siochradha, writer of ‘An Seabhach’.

The administrators of the college had the idea of inviting special guests to come to the college and give lectures. Amongst them was Father Pádraig Ó Duinnin, writer of the Irish-English dictionary. The local community was very welcoming, and a lot of famous visitors were drawn to the area. Amongst them were Traolach Mac Suibhne (Terence MacSwiney), Risteard Ó Maolcatha (Richard Mulcahy) and Domhnall Ó Corcora (Daniel Corkery).

This project encouraged Irish speakers around the country, and colleges were created all over the country in places such as Mayo, Waterford, Donegal and Kerry. At Feis na Mumhan, which was held in Killarney that year, a lot of support was shown for the project. Students who had attended Coláiste na Mumhan the summer before gave a lot of positive feedback about the college, and the committee was reappointed.

The Coláiste went from strength to strength, but the committee was not prepared to rest on their laurels, and in 1908 a delegation from Ballingeary went to a meeting in Killarney, and an increase in donations was sought to build a new college. The money was found with the help of Father Ó Dálaigh, and the new building was constructed on the land of Chonchubhair Uí Liatháin in Drom an Ailigh. In 1914, the new building was finished and Father Peadar Ó Laoghaire opened the new unit, which is now called Halla an Chéilí.

Now as that approaches its centenary, we should not forget the active leaders who achieved this feat in years long past. We are grateful that they have left this for us to inherit. We bless them and consider their stories and their work. We hope that their fame will remain in the minds of the generations that come after us.

1 Munster college of Irish Ballingeary – its foundation and growth, Liam de Róiste.
2 Athbheochan na Gaeilge, Donnchadha Ó Suilleabháin.
3 Athbheochan na Gaeilge, Donnchadha Ó Suilleabháin.
4 An Claidheamh Soluis, 1904, Pádraig Mac Piarais.
5 Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Donnchadh Ó Donnchadh.
6 Athbheochan na Gaeilge, Donncha Ó Súilleabháin.
7 Conradh na Gaeilge i gCorcaigh 1894-1910, Traolach Ó Ríordáin.
8 Conradh na Gaeilge i gCorcaigh 1894-1910, Traolach Ó Ríordáin.

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