Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-01-28
Sketch of the Most Prominent
Figure i'm the Gaelic MOve-
ment i'm America.
Occupies the Chair Founded in
the Catholic University at
Washington.
Completed His Studies i'm Ger
many, Graduating With
Distinction.
PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE.

Rev. Richard Henebry, PHI. D., Profess
sor of Kettle Languages in the Catholic
University of America, was born in Mount
Bolton House, Portlaw, County Water
ford, on September Is, 1868. His parents
names in their own language were Piarus
de Henebre and Eiblin nj Chaissin. He
received his first instruction at home, and
afterward attended the primary schools
at Carrick -oh-Suir, Clonmore, County
Kilkenny. and his native town. After
two years studies of humanities in Wa
terford City he entered St. Johns Eccle-
siastical College in the same place, where
he spent one year. He had at this time
shown great cleverness and remarkable
aptitude for study. On leaving st. Johns
College he went to Maynooth, where he
spent the full course of seven years, and
after his ordination he was sent to the
Diocese of Stafford, Lancashire, where he
remained for four years, principally at
St. Augustine's church in CRANKY Row,
Manchester.
Father Henebry during all these years
was an industrious student, aud languages
were speciality with him. To no Ian
euage, however, did he devote so much
attention as to the national tongue OF his
country, which he first learned from his
mothers lips, and which was the lam
guage of his home. When he learned
that there actually existed literature in
his native tongue he took up its study
with ardor, and soon became thoroughly
conversant with it, He picked up many
tales and traditions from the Gaelic
speaking worlxinen around Carrick, and
his principal teachers, as he became more
advanced. were Seaan Ruadh O'Sheehan
and Tom" Lannon in Portlaw and
bob" Weldon of Comeragh Mills. Of
whom he cherishes a greatful remem-
brance.
He taught elementary Irish while
boy in the College School, Stephen street,
Waterford, and he also taught the lam
guage while in Maynooth, in st. Mary's
Division, in 1892.
While in Manchester he was fortunate
enough to enjoy the familiar companion
ship of the celebrated Keltist, Prof. John
Strachan, of the Owens College, with
whom he exchanged modern and late
middle Irish for old Irish and Sanskrit.
At this time he became so we'll known
as Gaelic scholar that when, in 1870,
the founding of Gaelic chair in the
Catholic University of America at Wash
ington by the Ancient Order OF Hiberni-
ans became an accomplished fact, Father
Henebry was the unanimous choice OF
the leaders of the Gaelic revival I'm Ire
land and America for the professorship,
and he was accordingly appointed by the
University authorities.
He then proceeded to Germany to
complete his studies-principally OF old
Irish and other ancient tongues under
the great Celtic scholars of that country
and spent two semestres under Prof.
DIR. Thurneyse in Freiburg, Baden, and
two more with Prof. DIR. Heinrich Zim-
mer in the University of Greifswald, Po-
merania, Prussia, from which place he
graduated with great distinction in
1898, receiving the title OF Doctor OF
Philosophy. In addition to his examina-
ton he wrote dissertation entitled "a
Contribution to the Phonology of Desi-
Irish"
DR.. Henebry has contributed freely in
Gaelic and English to The Gael Brook
lyn) and FAMINE an Lac (Dublin), and
some of his more notable articles in other
publications are 1.-THE Progressi in Gaelic"
and "Irish Phonology," both OF which
appeared in the Catholic University Bull
letin, the latter in October, 1898. He al
so prepared more popular edition OF the
Griefswald Dissertation mentioned above,
which was published short time ago by
Messrs. M. H. Gill & Son, Dublin.
At the Gaelic Convention in New York
on November 2, DIR. Hennebry was elected
President of the Gaelic League OF Ameri-
ca, which, combined with his position as
Gaelic Professor in the University, makes
him the chief figure in the Goelic move
ment in this country. In addition to his
scholarly attainments he is practical,
vigorous man of action. He is devoted
to the Gaelic movement because he be-
lieves it is the only agency through which
Ireland can be thoroughly de-Anglican-
lied and the Irish nation rehabilitated,
and what is more. he believes 1t will sue.
coed.