Brian Ó Cuív

Brian Ó Cuív (1916 – 14 November 1999) was a Celtic scholar who specialised in Irish history and philology.

Brian Ó Cuív
Born1917
Died14 November 1999 (1999-11-15) (aged 83)
NationalityIrish
OccupationScholar
SpouseEmer de Valera
Children9
Academic work
DisciplineCeltic studies
Sub-disciplineIrish history and philology
InstitutionsUniversity College Dublin
Notable worksThe Irish of West Muskerry, Co. Cork: A Phonetic Study

Life

Ó Cuív was professor of Celtic Studies at University College Dublin and later at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.[1] His later years were devoted to the compilation of a catalogue of the Irish manuscripts in the University of Oxford.[2] The completed catalogue was published after his death.

He married Emer de Valera — a daughter of Éamon de Valera. They had nine children. Emer died in 2012.[3] Their son — Éamon Ó Cuív — is a prominent Irish politician.[1]

Surname

Ó Cuív's surname was changed from Ó Caoimh (O'Keeffe) by his father, Shán Ó Cuív, a Cork journalist, who in the early 20th century changed the spelling of his surname to conform with a simplified spelling system of his own invention, which he called An Leitriú Shimplí.[4] The letter 'v' is extremely rare in Irish outside modern loanwords.[5][6]

Works

His works include:

  • The Irish of West Muskerry, Co. Cork: A Phonetic Study (1951)
  • Irish Dialects and Irish Speaking Districts: Three Lectures (1951)
  • Parliament Na mBan, editor (1952)
  • Seven Centuries of Irish Learning: 1000–1700 (1961)
  • A View of the Irish Language (1969)
  • The Linguistic Training of the Mediaeval Irish Poet (1973)
  • The Impact of the Scandinavian Invasions on the Celtic-speaking Peoples c. 800–1100 A.D. (1983)
  • Catalogue of Irish Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and Oxford College Libraries (2001-03) 2 vols. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, School of Celtic Studies

Footnotes
  1. "Nine News". RTÉ. 14 November 1999. Archived from the original on 27 August 2004. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  2. "School of Celtic Studies – Catalogue of Irish manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford and Oxford College Libraries: Plates and Indexes". Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies: School of Celtic Studies. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  3. "Emer Í Chuív passes away aged 93". RTÉ News. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  4. "O Cuiv – the spelling of my name". Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  5. "Dáil Éireann – Volume 602 – 19 May 2005 – Priority Questions – Irish Language". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  6. "The spelling of Irish". Archived from the original on 27 November 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
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