Breathnach, Tomás (c.1867-?)

Biographical Note

Breathnach (Walsh), Tomás (Tomas, Thomas) (c.1867-?): Tomás Breathnach was born in Cloghbrack, Clonbur, county Galway, around 1867. His father and brothers were blacksmiths, and he was a national school teacher. He went to primary school in Cloghbrack and later attended a grammar school before going on to teacher training college in Dublin. Apart from this period in Dublin, he appears to have spent his whole life in Galway: in Cloonebrone, Cornamona and Cloghbrack, which is where he was living during the censuses of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000836893/] and 1911 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002428555/]. He married Mary Walsh around 1904. They had had five children by 1911, four of whom survived. He is named as a storyteller in Tomás Ó Máille, Urlabhraidheacht agus Graiméar na Gaedhilge, Cuid 1 (Dublin, 1927). Some folkloric tales supplied to An Stoc between August 1918 and August 1920 are attributed to 'Tomás Breathnach, gabha [blacksmith]'. Perhaps this is the same informant. For this folkloric material, see Risteárd de hAe, Clár Litridheacht na Nua-Ghaedhilge (Dublin, 1938-40), index.

Personal Details Form ('Personalbogen')

Personalbogen

A personal details form (‘Personalbogen’) was completed for each speaker at the Doegen Scheme recording sessions 1928-31. The information displayed below is derived mainly from these forms.

SexMale
Personalbogen form(s) for this speaker (RIA Library ref.)Doegen P-B/143
Record number(s) for this speakerLA 1103
Track title(s) for this speakerAn mac doscaíoch (cuid 1) - Tomás Breathnach (c.1867-?)
An mac doscaíoch (cuid 2) - Tomás Breathnach (c.1867-?)
Track ID(s) for this speaker (User Version)LA_1103d1, LA_1103d2
Forename(s) (Canonical)Tomás
Surname (Canonical)Breathnach
Alias forename(s)

No data.

Alias surname(s)

No data.

County of originCo. Galway
AddressCloghbrack, Clonbur, Co. Galway
Age63
Date of birth No data
Place of birthCloghbrack, Clonbur, Co. Galway
Nearest big town to place of birthBallinrobe, Co. Mayo
Place(s) lived age 0-6Cloghbrack, Co. Galway
Place(s) lived age 7-20Cloghbrack, Co. Galway
Place(s) lived from age 20Cloonbrone (Clonbron); Cornamona; Cloghbrack (all Co. Galway).
EducationNational school, Cloghbrack, Co. Galway; Grammar school (location?); Teachers' training college, Dublin
Father's home placeCloghbrack, Co. Galway
Mother's home placeKilbeg (3 miles east of Cloghbrack, Co. Galway)
Father's professionBlacksmith
NationalityIrish
Mother tongueIrish
Languages spoken other than Irish

No data.

Able to read?Yes (Irish, English and Latin)
Able to write?Yes (Irish and English)
Able to play a musical instrument?No
Able to sing or play modern European kinds of music?Yes
ReligionCatholic
ProfessionSchool teacher
Names (of RIA committee members, recordist) appearing on formTomás Ó Máille, L. Ó Buachalla
Comment(s) on voice etc."deep voice"