Thomas Wall

Bhí Thomas Wall (1906–1985) ar dhuine de leabhareolaithe móra a linne. Tá cuntas air ag Bo Almqvist in The Irish Times, 28 Lúnasa 1985 (i gcló freisin in Old Kilkenny Review, 1985).
I mBaile na mBodach i gceantar an Chloichín, Contae Thiobraid Árann, a rugadh é 4 Iúil 1906; feirmeoir san áit sin a athair Michael agus ba í Mary Scully a mháthair. Cuireadh bunoideachas air sa Ghráinseach; sa scoil sin a bhí Séamus Ó Maolchatha, údar An Gleann agus a raibh ann, 1963, ag múineadh idir 1904 agus 1948. D’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste Charraig an Tobair sula ndeachaigh sé go dtí Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. De réir a chéile bhain sé amach céimeanna MA agus PhD agus bhí ag teagasc i meánscoileanna éagsúla; luaitear Cnoc Beag, Ceatharlach, go háirithe.
Chuaigh sé le leabharlannaíocht nuair a iarradh air i 1937 leabharlann Choláiste Phádraig, Maigh Nuad, a athchóiriú agus a chlárú. Rinne sé obair den chineál céanna ar ball i Leabharlann na bhFroinsiasach, Cé na gCeannaithe, Baile Átha Cliath, agus i gColáiste Phádraig, Ceatharlach. Faoi 1940 bhí sé ar fhoireann leabharlann an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Ceapadh é ina leabharlannaí sa Choimisiún Béaloideasa i 1949 agus d’fhan sa phost i 1971, nuair a rinne Roinn Bhéaloideas Éireann den eagraíocht, go dtí gur shroich sé aois a 70.
Gheofar tuairim den eolas fairsing a bhí aige ar chúrsaí leabhar agus foilsitheoireachta agus ar stair Bhaile Átha Cliath in 'At the Sign of Dr Hay’s Head. Being some account of the hazards and fortunes of Catholic printers and publishers in Dublin from the later penal times to the present day', 1958. Sraith luachmhar a scríobh sé is ea na hailt ar lucht scríofa na gcaiticeasmaí Gaeilge in Irish Ecclesiastical Record sna blianta 1943 agus 1944: Archdekin, Gearnon, Ó hEodhasa, Stapleton . . . In Reportorium Novum, 1955 bhí alt aige ar an Ardeaspag John Carpenter. Tá a dhéantús le feiceáil freisin in Capuchin Annual, County Kildare Archaeological Society Journal, County Louth Archaeological Society Journal, Béaloideas (alt ar Pheadar Ó Conaill), Irish Catholic Historical Committee Proceedings, Father Luke Wadding: commemorative volume, 1957 . . .. Ba é a chuir amach an leabhar faoin Uaidíneach eile, A Pious Garland being the December letter and Christmas carols of Luke Wadding, Bishop of Ferns . . ., 1960.
Fear tostach a bhí ann agus ní thugadh sé eolas dá mbíodh ina thimpeall ar a chúrsaí féin. Deir Almqvist ina thaobh: "Personally, Dr Wall was a man of great modesty. Nothing was further removed from him than self-advertisement and display of learning. It was obvious to all who knew him, however, that there were few to surpass him in wide matters pertaining to his field. He was himself fond of quoting an epigram about the erudite 17th century Florentine librarian Magliabechi: “Some say that after all his learning is not great, / The learned allow him but librarian’s state , / And yet in sober truth it must be said: / All go to him for flour to make their bread” . . .. Dr Wall’s assistance is thankfully recognised by hundreds of leading folklorists, historians and other scholars in Ireland and from all imaginable corners of Europe, America and further afield. Those who have tapped his well of knowledge also include many poets, novelists and other creative artists."
D’éag sé 20 Lúnasa 1985. Bhí sé pósta ar an staraí Maureen Wall (nee McGeehan) a bhí imithe ar shlí na fírinne roimhe; ní raibh sliocht orthu.