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Last week marked an exciting reunion for the special collections team. Our copy of An Tiomna Nuadh, the 1602 Irish translation of The New Testament, returned to us after undergoing extensive restoration and repair at the Muckross Bookbindery in Killarney.

An Tiomna Nuadh was donated to the library on 12^th of July 2019 by the Ó Dálaigh family from Athlone. To mark the significance of the donation of such a rare and old book, the library held an event attended by the Ó Dálaigh family (pictured below). Local Librarian, Rory Ó hAodha spoke at the event about Uilleam Ó Domhnaill’s role in publishing the book.

An Tiomna Nuadh arrived here in very poor condition. With pages coming apart and others damaged by bookworm, it was entrusted to the care of Paul Curtis in the Muckross Bindery and Paper Conservation Workshop, where it remained for five years. While the pandemic accounted for some of that time, much of the delay reflected the delicate, specialist nature of this project.

    Before                                                                                                              After

Paul travelled to view other surviving copies of the book so he could replicate the original binding style as accurately as possible. Each page was repaired individually and then sewn onto cords of twine- a technique used in medieval bookbinding.

By the time it was printed in 1602, An Tiomna Nuadh had been over 30 years in the making. From 1567-1587, it passed through the hands of many translators, after which the project was abandoned for six years. Uilliam Ó Domhnaill resumed the work in 1593 and, almost 10 years later, the book was printed in Dublin.

The exact number of copies printed is unknown but expected to be in the hundreds. In a 2019 survey of the surviving copies, Fearghus Ó Fearghail located 39 copies of An Tiomna Nuadh across libraries in Ireland, the UK, Europe, the United States, and some copies in private hands. Ó Fearghail, however, was not aware of our acquisition when he wrote the article, so that makes ours copy number 40.

At over 400 years old, An Tiomna Nuadh is a hugely important part of our special collections, and we are delighted to have it back in the library in a much more stable condition.

Repairs on some particularly damaged pages

1. Before and after

2. Repaired insect damage

3. Before and after

We will be posting about An Tiomna Nuadh and other items from our special collections and archives as part of the Explore Your Archives campaign (29^th November-7^th December).

Keep an eye on our Bluesky account (@UniofGalwayASC). You might discover a library treasure you never knew existed!

The Ó Dálaigh family with Rory Ó hAodha and John Cox, then University Librarian

Dr. Chris McCann

The 3rd of October 2025 saw the launch of a new bilingual exhibition, Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Life and Work, in the Hardiman Research Building exhibition space. Máirtí Ó Cadhain (1906-1970) was a giant of Irish-language culture, and the exhibition tells his story by weaving together the many strands of his highly accomplished life.

Dr. Chris McCann of Roinn na Gaeilge curated the exhibition with the support of Research Ireland, Iontaobhas Uí Chadhain, and members of the Special Collections team. Amongst other artefacts, it includes Ó Cadhain’s personal possessions and material from the University of Galway archives. Artworks made specially by the artist and poet Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha enhance the exhibition’s storytelling aspect.

Here is a selection of the most noteworthy items on display:

First-edition copy of Cré na Cille

Ó Cadhain sent this copy of Cré na Cille to his relatives in An Cnocán Glas, with the order “to be read to Máirtín Beag”, his uncle. Ó Cadhain’s magnum opus attracted widespread attention when first serialised in the Irish Press in 1949, and later published as a book in 1950. “I know,” said Ó Cadhain in 1969, “that the ordinary people, in the west at least, and these are my own people, thoroughly enjoyed Cré na Cille.”

Academic robes (and evening suit)

Ó Cadhain was a scholar with vast knowledge of the literature and folklore of Ireland and Europe. In 1956 he was appointed Lecturer of Irish by Trinity College, who later made him an Associate Professor in 1967 and Professor in 1969. The robes he would wear for academic business are on display here, as well as an evening suit he would wear on formal occasions.

There is a wealth of other exhibits and information in Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Life and Work which gives new insight for both experts and those encountering this giant of the Irish language for the first time. It is free and open to the public until 22 October 2025. Dr. McCann is working on travelling and digital editions of the exhibition for the months ahead.

Dr. Chris McCann

Ar an 3 Deireadh Fómhair 2025, seoladh taispeántas dátheangach nua, Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Saol agus Saothar, sa spás taispeántais i bhforhalla Fhoirgneamh Uí Argadáin, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Fathach de chuid chultúr na Gaeilge a bhí sa gCadhnach (1906-1970), agus déanann an taispeántas a scéal a insint tríd na snáitheanna a bhaineann le gnéithe éagsúla dá shaol ildánach a fhí le chéile.

Is é an Dr. Chris McCann, Roinn na Gaeilge, a choimeád an taispeántas le tacaíocht ó Thaighde Éireann, Iontaobhas Uí Chadhain, agus bhaill foirne sna Bailiúcháin Speisialta. I measc neart ábhar eile, cuimsíonn sé sealúchais de chuid an Chadhnaigh agus earraí ó Chartlanna Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Cuireann saothair ealaíne a rinne an t-ealaíontóir agus an file Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha go speisialta go mór le modh scéalaíochta an taispeántais.

Seo rogha de na taispeántáin is suntasaí atá le fáil ann:

An phortráid

Tosaíonn an taispeántas sa gCnocán Glas, baile dúchais an Chadhnaigh, le portráid chumhachtach nua a rinne an t-ealaíontóir Seán Ó Flaithearta. Is le haghaidh an leabhair Dúchan (2025) le Colm Ó Cuaig agus Charles Dillon a rinneadh an phortráid ar dtús. Chun an t-ábhar datha a dhéanamh, d’úsáid an Flaitheartach cré agus créafóg a bhailigh sé timpeall fhothrach an tí inar rugadh agus inar tógadh an Cadhnach. Tá an chré ar na siombailí is bunúsaí a d’úsáid Ó Cadhain chun a theanga agus a chultúr dúchais a léiriú ina shaothar cruthaitheach.

Cóip de chéadchló Cré na Cille

Chuir Ó Cadhain an chóip seo de Cré na Cille chuig a mhuintir sa gCnocán Glas, leis an ordú “le léamh do Mháirtín Beag”, uncail Mháirtín. Bhí mórshaothar an Chadhnaigh go mór i mbéal an phobail nuair a céadfoilsíodh é, mar shraith san Irish Press i rith na bliana 1949 ar dtús agus ansin mar leabhar in 1950. “Tá a fhios agam,” adúirt Ó Cadhain in 1969, “gur thug an gnáthphobal, thiar ar aon nós, agus seo iad mo mhuintir féin, an-taithneamh do Chré na Cille.”

An chros Cheilteach

Rinne Ó Cadhain an chros Cheilteach álainn seo as cipíní le linn dó a bheith imtheorannaithe i gCampa Géibhinn an Churraigh, Co. Chill Dara, idir 1940-44 de bharr ballraíocht a bheith aige san IRA. Comórann an chros bás Shiobháin Ní Rodaigh, deirfiúr Mháirín Bean Uí Chadhain. Seantraidisiún de chuid príosúnaigh Phoblachtacha is ea é crosa Ceilteacha a dhéanamh.

Róbaí acadúla (agus culaith thráthnóna)

Ba scoláire é Máirtín Ó Cadhain a raibh eolas domhain aige ar litríocht agus bhéaloideas na hÉireann agus na hEorpa. Ceapadh é mar léachtóir le Gaeilge i gColáiste na Tríonóide in 1956, rinne an Tríonóid Comhollamh de in 1967 agus rinneadh Ollamh de in 1969. Tá róbaí a chaitheadh sé le haghaidh gnó acadúil ar taispeáint anseo, mar aon le culaith thráthnóna a chaitheadh sé ar ócáidí foirmiúla.

Tá neart ábhar agus eolais eile in Máirtín Ó Cadhain: Saol agus Saothar trína bhfaighidh idir shaineolaithe agus dhaoine ar bheagán eolais ar an gCadhnach léargas nua ar dhuine d’fhathaigh mhóra na Gaeilge. Tá sé saor in aisce agus oscailte don phobal go dtí an 22 Deireadh Fómhair 2025. Tá sé i gceist ag an Dr. McCann dul ar camchuairt leis an taispeántas, mar aon le leagan digiteach a dhéanamh de sna míonna atá amach romhainn – coinnigh súil amach.