Aebhgréine De Ceabhasa Special Collection

 The Aebhgréine De Ceabhasa Collection

In April 2024, the Aebhgréine De Ceabhasa special collection was catalogued and is now available for research and review. This collection features volumes of Irish folklore, poetry and Irish history from the 20th century.

The De Ceabhasa family consisted of Claude Chavasse (later changed to De Ceabhasa), his wife Moirin Fox (Moirín De Ceabhasa) and their daughter Aebhgréine. Claude originally lived in Oxford before moving to Galway where he and his family immersed themselves in Irish culture and history.

Moirín was a poet and author. She penned a biography about Irish revolutionary Terrence McSwiney. Originally from Cork, McSwiney was involved in the 1916 Rising, politics and was also a poet. There are several volumes about McSwiney within the collection which highlight his early life and role in politics. Several volumes of McSwiney’s poetry are also included in this collection.

As aforementioned, Moirín was also a poet. Included in this collection is a uniquely decorated edition of one of her volumes of poetry. This volume, gifted to Aebhgréine, features a handsewn book jacket decorated with the visage of a tree and mountains. On the inside cover, Aebhgréine has noted the gifting of this book of poetry to her and the meaning of the images on the jacket. The edition of the poetry volume was noted as an early review copy of the work.

Faery Nights (1922)

Alongside works by Moirín, this collection also features translated works of Irish folklore into modern Irish and English. Two noteworthy inclusions in this area are two illustrated books which retell the adventures of Irish figures including the Fenians. Tales of the Gaels (published circa 1921) is a fully illustrated retelling of the adventures of the Fenians including tales relating to Oisín, Caolty and Diarmuid. Faery Nights (1922) is also an illustrated volume of Irish folklore, but it is interestingly written in old Irish as well as English, with translations on either page. This offers a chance to experience Irish for reader’s with limited experience with Irish. This book highlights folklore associated with specific days throughout the calendar year such St. Bridget’s Eve and May Day Eve.

Tales of the Gaels (circa 1921), internal illustration.

Of note, several volumes in the collection displayed unique additions to them such as bookplates belonging to Lady Gregory. Other artefacts were also found amongst the volumes including completed postcards and early photographs of the De Ceabhasa family.

This unique collection is now available for research. For more information on the University of Galway’s special collections, please visit our special collections page: Special Collections.

Bailiúchán Speisialta Aebhgréine De Ceabhasa

Rinneadh bailiúchán speisialta Aebhgréine De Ceabhasa a chatalógú i mí Aibreáin 2024 agus tá fáil air anois chun críocha taighde agus athbhreithnithe. San áireamh leis an mbailiúchán seo tá imleabhair de bhéaloideas agus d’fhilíocht, agus de stair na hÉireann ón bhfichiú haois.

Triúr a bhí i gclann De Ceabhasa, an t-athair Claude Chavasse (De Ceabhasa mar a tugadh air ina dhiaidh sin), a bhean chéile, Moirin Fox (Moirín De Ceabhasa) agus a n-iníon, Aebhgréine. Bhí cónaí ar Claude in Oxford sular bhog sé go Gaillimh, áit ar thum sé féin agus a theaghlach iad féin i gcultúr agus i stair na hÉireann.

File agus údar a bhí i Moirín. Scríobh sí beathaisnéis an réabhlóidí, Traolach Mac Suibhne. De bhunadh Chorcaí Mac Suibhne agus bhí baint aige le hÉirí Amach 1916 agus le saol na polaitíochta. File a bhí ann chomh maith. Tá roinnt imleabhar faoi Mhac Suibhne sa bhailiúchán a tharraingíonn aird ar a shaol agus é ina fhear óg agus ar an ról a bhí aige sa pholaitíocht. Tá sciar maith d'fhilíocht Mhic Suibhne sa bhailiúchán seo chomh maith.

Mar a luadh cheana, file a bhí i Moirín chomh maith. Tá maisiúchán faoi leith déanta ar cheann dá himleabhair filíochta agus é san áireamh leis an mbailiúchán seo. Bronntanas d’Aebhgréine a bhí ann agus tá an forchlúdach fuáite de láimh agus maisithe le híomhá de chrann agus sléibhte. Tá aitheantas tugtha ag Aebhgréine do bhronnadh an leabhair filíochta seo uirthi ar an gclúdach istigh agus míniú tugtha aici ar na híomhánna ar an bhforchlúdach. Tugadh le fios gur cóip luath léirmheastóireachta den saothar a bhí san eagrán seo den imleabhar filíochta.

Anuas ar shaothar Mhoirín, tá leaganacha aistrithe de scéalta béaloidis na hÉireann san áireamh leis an mbailiúchán seo chomh maith agus iad tiontaithe go Nua-Ghaeilge agus go Béarla. Díol suntais maidir leis seo is ea dhá leabhar mhaisithe ina ndéantar athinsint ar eachtraí carachtar ó bhéaloideas na hÉireann, na Fíníní san áireamh. Athinsint d’eachtraí na Fiannaíochta is ea Tales of the Gaels (arna foilsiú c. 1921) agus é maisithe go hiomlán, agus scéalta ann faoi Oisín, Caoilte agus Diarmuid. Imleabhar maisithe eile de bhéaloideas na hÉireann is ea Faery Nights (1922), ach díol spéise is ea é gur leagan dátheangach é, i seanGhaeilge agus i mBéarla. Deis atá ann blaiseadh den Ghaeilge a fháil dóibh siúd ar bheagán taithí ar an léitheoireacht i nGaeilge. Tá gnéithe den bhéaloideas a bhaineann le laethanta faoi leith den bhliain sa leabhar seo chomh maith, mar atá Oíche na Féile Bríde agus Oíche Bealtaine.

Díol suime is ea é go raibh ábhar breise uathúil istigh le roinnt de na himleabhair sa bhailiúchán, leabharshuaitheantas le Lady Gregory mar shampla. Thángthas ar nithe eile i measc na n-imleabhar, mar shampla cártaí poist agus grianghraif luatha de mhuintir De Ceabhasa.

Tá fáil ar an mbailiúchán uathúil seo anois chun críocha taighde. Tabhair cuairt ar leathanach na mbailiúchán speisialta chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi bhailiúcháin speisialta Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: Bailiúcháin Speisialta.