# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/MacCurtin, Hugh

​MACCURTIN, HUGH (1680?–1756), Irish antiquary, was born in the parish of Kilmacreehy, in the barony of Corcomroe, co. Clare, about 1680, and received general education, as well as special instruction in Irish literature and history, from his cousin, Andrew MacCurtin [q. v.], whom he succeeded titular ollav or ollamh [i.e. chronicler] of the O'Briens of Thomond. He continued his education in France, where he was patronised by Lord Clare and by the dauphin, in whose household he acted as a tutor for seven years, and returned to Ireland about 1714. In that year he wrote a lament of seventy-two verses for the death of Donagh O'Loghlen of Burren, co. Clare, and in 1715 a poem beginning 'Iomdha easbadh air Eirinn,' on the death of Lewis O'Brien in France. In 1717 he published 'A brief Discourse in Vindication of the Antiquity of Ireland.' This was printed for the author at the sign of the Printing Press in Copper Alley, Dublin, and is dedicated to William O'Brien, earl of Inchiquin. There were 238 subscribers, and the native interest in the work is shown by the fact that of their names sixty have the prefix O', and thirty-four the prefix Mac, while many of the other names would be more correctly written in the same way. Two parts only appeared, a third was promised, 'with all sincerity and expedition,' but was never printed. Part i. contains the adventures of the Gadelians from Fenius Fearsa to the coming of the Milesians into Ireland, and to a.d. 431, while Part ii. contains relationa of memorable actions up to 1171. 'Leabbar na Gceart,' 'Leabhar Gabhala,' the 'Book of Leinster,' or transcripts of sections contained in them, and probably Keating's 'History,' as the foundations of the book, which contain as might be expected from its locality and dedications, full accounts of the deeds of Brian Boroimhe. In 1718 MacCurtin wrote a poem on the marriage of Isabel, daughter of Christopher O'Brien, with Sorley MacDonnell, which was privately printed with other items in honour of the Macdonnells of Kilkee and Killone by Brian O'Looney in 1863. MacCurtin led the wandering life of an Irish poet of the time, entertained at one castle, repulsed at the next, and produced panegyric or lampoon according to the character of his reception. Many of his poems are still extant in manuscript in those collections which were to be found in many Irish farmhouses till the decay of the language. After his cousin Andrew, his chief literary friend was the learned schoolmaster, Tadhg O'Neachtain, and he wrote to him an epistle in verse on the death of Edmond O'Byrne, a priest. He also wrote a poem on a ship belonging to O'Loghlen of Burren, beginning 'Beannaigh an bharc blathanuite bealchumtha' ('Bless the well-knit, fair-shaped vessel'). In 1728 he published, by the aid of Father Morphy of the Franciscans, in Lourain, 'The Elements of the Irish Language,' dedicated by Major-general Devenish, governor of Courtray. The fourteen chapters of the grammar are followed by a reprint of Bonaventura O'Hussey's catechism in prose and verse. He composed an English-Irish dictionary with Conor O'Begly, and it was published in Paris in 4to in 1732, with an introductory poem in Irish by MacCurtin. The dictionary is a very interesting one, containing a large series ​of phrases illustrating the use of words. Thus under 'about,' in Irish 'timchioll,' forty-five phrases are given, as 'about noon,' 'I jeered him about his hat,' 'there's such a devilish way about him,' 'I have no money about me,' showing every possible use of the Irish equivalents of the English word, and incidentally giving many idioms. In other directions the dictionary is incomplete. The daffodil is rendered 'sort planda,' a kind of plant. But it is a valuable record of the vernacular of its day. A summary of the grammar is printed at the end. In 1749 he wrote a dirge for his teacher and cousin Andrew MacCurtin, and in 1750 a poem on upstarts, beginning 'Ar aonach ma theid sin ar uair do lo' (Egerton MS. 160 in Brit. Mus.) He also wrote an answer to Tadhg O'Neachtain (ib. 194). In his later years he kept a school in the townland of Knockin-an-aoird, in native parish, and there died in 1755. He was buried in the churchyard of Kilmacreehy. The ruins of his house and schoolroom were standing in 1863.
[B. O'Looney's Danta Chlainne Domhnaill, 1863; J. O'Daly's Poets and Poetry of Munster; E. O'Reilly in Transactions of the Iberno-Celtic Soc. Dublin, 1820. Egerton MSS. 160 and 194, in Brit. Mus.]
N. M.