de Breit, Pádraig

Biographical Note

De Breit (Brett), Pádraig (‘Sliabh Geal gCua’) (c.1850-1932): Pádraig de Breit was born around 1850 in Island, county Waterford. He attended primary school nearby in Stradbally. After growing up in Island, he spent many years in Waterford city, which is where he was living with his family during the censuses of 1901 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001237704/] and 1911 [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003505637/]. He worked as a foreman with the Waterford–Dungaran–Lismore Railway before being appointed inspector for the Waterford–Tramore Railway. He became vice-president of Conradh na Gaeilge in Waterford and helped organize the first Feis Phort Láirge in 1903. He was elected to the first management committee of Coláiste na Rinne in 1909, and became a member of the executive committee of Conradh na Gaeilge in 1914. He was a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party and, as a Redmondite, was elected as an Alderman to Waterford Corporation around 1920, a position he retained till his death. He married his wife, Susan, around, 1878. They had seventeen children, but only four survived. Pádraig died 11 February 1932. Some of his poetry was published in the Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society (vol. 12), An Claidheamh Soluis (17 September 1910), and in Irisleabhar Muighe Nuadhad (1917). Some material collected from him is found also in the National Folklore Collection, UCD. See also http://www.ainm.ie/Bio.aspx?ID=419.

Personal Details Form ('Personalbogen')

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/29, Doegen P-B/30
Record number(s) for this speakerLA 1059, LA 1060
Track title(s) for this speakerPilib an Chleite - Pádraig de Breit
Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh - Pádraig de Breit
Track ID(s) for this speaker (User Version)LA_1059d1, LA_1060d1
Forename(s) (Canonical)Pádraig
Surname (Canonical)de Breit
Alias forename(s)

No data.

Alias surname(s)

No data.

County of originCo. Waterford
AddressWaterford City (or Island, Co. Waterford)
Age73
Date of birth No data
Place of birthIsland, Co. Waterford
Nearest big town to place of birthDungarvan, Co. Waterford
Place(s) lived age 0-6Island, Co. Waterford
Place(s) lived age 7-20Island, Co. Waterford
Place(s) lived from age 20Island, Co. Waterford, first; in Waterford for 37 years.
EducationPrimary school, Stradbally, Co. Waterford
Father's home placenear Ballynakill, Co. Waterford
Mother's home placeBallynakill, Co. Waterford
Father's professionLabourer
NationalityIrish
Mother tongueIrish
Languages spoken other than IrishEnglish
Able to read?Yes (Irish and English)
Able to write?Yes (Irish and English)
Able to play a musical instrument?No
Able to sing or play modern European kinds of music?No
ReligionCatholic
ProfessionRailway supervisor (retired)
Names (of RIA committee members, recordist) appearing on formOsborn Bergin, Wilhelm Doegen, Tomás Ó Rathile
Comment(s) on voice etc."he nasalierende klingende harte Stimme mit weich dunklem resonierendem Einschlag. Mittleres Tempo. Gute Konsonanz" (Wilhelm Doegen)