News

Launch of Irish language biographies website - www.ainm.ie

(Clé go deas, ar chúl): An Dr. Peadar Ó Flatharta, Fiontar, DCU; An Dr. GearÓid Ó Cleircín, Fiontar, DCU; An Dr. Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Fiontar, DCU; An Dr. Brian Ó Raghallaigh, Fiontar DCU.
(Clé go deas, chun tosaigh): Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich TD, Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta; Máire Ní Mhurchú, údar Beathaisnéis; Diarmuid Breathnach, údar Beathaisnéis; Micheál Ó Conghaile, Cló Iar-Chonnacht.

On 1 November, the new Irish-language biographies website, ainm.ie, was launched in the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street by Minister for State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley TD.

The project is a collaboration between publishers Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Fiontar, DCU, and the authors of the Beathaisnéis series Diarmuid Breathnach and Máire Ní Mhurchú.

Work on the project started in 2009, with funding from the Departments of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the digitization and online publication of the material.

The biographies is a valuable research tool comprising 1,693 biographies from 1560 to the present day. 532 of these biographies, which had been previously published in the printed volumes, were updated to reflect corrections and new research which became available since publication. Forty newly-written biographies were also included on the site.

Diarmuid Breathnach and Máire Ní Mhurchú are the authors in each case, and Fiontar prepared the material for publication on ainm.ie. New biographies will be added to the website as these become available.

Future plans include the development of the online resource and continuation and renewal of Irish-language biographical studies. Arrangements will be made for the publication of material on a continuous basis.

Did you know?

• There are 1.3 million words in the original printed work, the Beathaisnéis series.
• An Claidheamh Soluis* is the most frequently mentioned Irish-language publication in the biographies.
• Blackrock College* is the most frequently mentioned school.
• 118 of the subjects featured lived to 90 years old.
• Maynooth* is the most frequently mentioned town.
• There are 1,693 biographies from 1560 to the present day on ainm.ie.
• Dublin* is the most frequently mentioned county and city.
• The biographies of 1536 men and 157 women are on ainm.ie.
• Gaoth Dobhair is mentioned 29 times in the biographies.
• Trinity College Dublin* is the most frequently mentioned university.
• The National Library is mentioned 113 times in the biographies.
• Short lives: James Cogan (1874-1898); William Haliday (1788-1812).
• Long lives: Colm de Bhailís (1796-1906); Bríd Uí Dhireáin (1894-2003).
• Ó Súilleabháin is the most common surname among those entered on ainm.ie.
  (There are 36 people with the surname Ó Súilleabhán)