Pádraig (Paddy) Ua Maoileoin, who died last weekend aged 89, was a prominent Irish-language writer and novelist.
Writing was in his blood: his maternal grandfather, Tomás Ó Criomhthain, was the author of An tOileánach (published in translation as The Islandman), while his uncle, Seán Ó Criomhthain, was also a writer. Pádraig ranked among the best modern prose writers in Irish along with Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin and Seosamh Mac Grianna. A superb stylist, he drew heavily on "caint na ndaoine".
He also wrote poetry and was, in the 1960s, a newsreader on RTÉ television's An Nuacht.
Before he became a full-time writer, Pádraig Ua Maoileoin served for many years as a member of An Garda Síochána. He joined the force in 1935 and rose to the rank of sergeant, retiring in 1965.
He had the physique of the stereotypical rural "Civic Guard". Tall and broad-shouldered, he could obviously handle himself in a scrap should the occasion arise. But apart from a few temporary postings in Donegal at the beginning of his career, he served at Garda Headquarters which was located in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, until 1950 and thereafter at the Phoenix Park. His duties as a Garda officer included translating legal manuscripts and law books from English to Irish. On his retirement he was commended for "exemplary service".
Pádraig Ua Maoileoin was born on January 28th, 1913 in Comineól, Corca Dhuibhne, Co. Kerry, the son of Tomás Malone and his wife, Cáit (née Criomhthain). He attended Scoil Dhún Chaoin and continued his education at Dingle CBS. His mother died in 1922 and his father remarried in 1927. The family moved to Baile an Ghóilín, a move Pádraig was unhappy with. His parents considered that he had a vocation for the priesthood and he was sent to begin his training at St Brendan's College, Killarney. He, however, decided that the religious life was not for him and, on winning a scholarship to University College Cork, he opted to study arts. After a year he joined An Garda Síochána.
In the 1950s, he broadcast a series of talks on Radio Éireann dealing with life in Corca Dhuibhne. The station's general features' officer, Francis McManus, and Seán Sairséal Ó hÉigeartaigh of the Irish-language publishers, Sairséal agus Dill, persuaded him to adapt the talks for publication in book form. The resultant volume, Na hÁird Ó Thuaidh, is probably his best-known work and is regarded as one of the most important books in Irish-language literature.
Published in 1968, De Réir Uimhreacha is based on his experience as a member of the Garda Síochána. Ár Leithéidí Airís (1978) is a collection of miscellaneous writings. Fonn a Níos Fiach (1978), a novella based on a Connemara folk-tale, was followed by Ó Thuaidh (1983), another novel. Iomairí Críche (1991) is a collection of essays and poems. A memoir of his early years, Macadúna, was published in 2000, and among his last publications was Dúlra Duibhne, a study of the flora and fauna of Corca Dhuibhne. His work won him several Oireachtas literary awards.
In the early 1970s, Pádraig Ua Maoileoin undertook the editing of a new edition of An tOileánach, the first edition of which had been edited by Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (An Seabhach). He aimed it at the general reader rather than the literary scholar, making some changes that took account of the standardisation of the Irish language. This caused some controversy, but his work has since been acknowledged to have been true to its time.
On retiring from An Garda Síochána, Pádraig Ua Maoileoin was employed by the Department of Education as assistant editor to Niall Ó Dónaill on Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, a major undertaking that came to fruition in 1977. He was retained as a lexicographer, working for An Gúm on various projects. He later did excellent work for Professor Tomás de Bháldraithe in the Dialect Archive at University College, Dublin, which recorded the language of the different Gaeltacht areas.
Outwardly Rabelaisian, he was inwardly staunchly religious. True, he enjoyed a bawdy song and, indeed, wrote a few himself, but he had a strong Catholic faith. He was, however, no puritan. As he wrote, "nír chuaigh piúratánachas an Bhéarla i bhfeidhm riamh ar an nGaeltacht agus ar saol Dhún Chaoin, ach go háirithe".
Club an Chonartha in Harcourt Street, Dublin, was a favourite haunt. There he held court in his special corner, ordering a drink with the words, "Trom saucepan porter." He was an accomplished traditional Irish singer and a song from him, usually at the end of the night, was a compliment to the audience. He had been in his time an enthusiastic set-dancer.
He always regarded himself as a Dún Chaoin man and, in recent years, spent four months annually there. His had an active retirement and he loved company. He had a passionate belief in Irish culture, at work or at play.
In 2000 he was awarded an honorary DLitt by the National University of Ireland.
He was predeceased in 1980 by his wife, Lil. He is survived by Máire Ní Dhálaigh, cara dílis; sons Tomás and Pádraig; daughters Bríd and Nollaig; and sister Cáit.
Pádraig Ua Maoileoin: born January 28th, 1913; died October 19th, 2002.