author
Pádraig Ó Seaghdha
1855–1928
A pioneer of modern Irish-language short fiction, this Kerry writer helped bring everyday speech and fresh storytelling into print during the Gaelic Revival. He wrote under the pen name "Conán Maol" and paired literary work with a lifelong commitment to the Irish language.
1 Audiobook
Aoḋ Ó Néill : Drama
by Pádraig Ó Seaghdha
About the author
Born near Kenmare, County Kerry, around 1855, Pádraig Ó Seaghdha grew up in an Irish-speaking family and carried that connection to the language throughout his life. He was educated locally, later entered the Customs service, and became known not only as a writer but also as an active supporter of the Irish-language movement.
Writing as Conán Maol, he is remembered as an early and important short-story writer in Irish. His work appeared during the Gaelic Revival, and he helped show that Irish prose could be lively, modern, and suited to fiction as well as scholarship or folklore.
Ó Seaghdha died in 1928, but his reputation has lasted because of the role he played in shaping Irish-language literature at a crucial moment. For readers today, his work offers both strong storytelling and a window into the energy of the revival that transformed modern Irish writing.