Brother Liam P. ╙ Caithnia, who died on September 25th aged 76, contributed significantly to writing in Irish. He was the author of four books and co-edited another with Cardinal Tomβs ╙ Fiaich (1923-90), with whom he had much in common. They were both considerable scholars, who carried their learning lightly and gave of their time generously.
His magnum opus, entitled ScΘal na hIomβna, was described by the late Eileen O'Brien as a "heroic history of hurling", and by Alan Titley as among the few most important books written in Irish in the 20th century. Before Alzheimer's disease claimed the energies of his great mind, he was engaged in a study of the faith and beliefs of the common people during the centuries of oppression, 1550-1850.
He was born in Cork on September 14th, 1925, the third child of Leo Canny and Mamie Conway. His father was a fitter/turner in Ford's. He attended the Model School where a teacher, Mrs Lillis, instilled a love of the Irish language in him. At the age of nine he was sent to the Gaeltacht in BΘal ┴tha an Ghaorthaigh, where he acquired a love for traditional music that was to play a major role in his life.
At Sullivan's Quay CBS he felt the call to be a Christian Brother and in July 1938 he set off for St Joseph's, Baldoyle, Co Dublin, to begin training for the life that was to end in St Patrick's across the road 63 years later.
He completed his secondary school education in Colβiste Chiarβin, Bray, before entering the Christian Brothers' novitiate in St Helen's, Booterstown, in 1941. He trained as a primary school teacher in Colβiste Mhuire, Marino.
Liam ╙ Caithnia's first assignment was to Mount Sion, Waterford. Over the years he taught in schools around the country including: Kells, Co Meath; Drimnagh Castle, Walkinstown; Tralee; St Joseph's, Fairview, An Colβiste Oili·na, Marino, Colβiste Mhuire and O'Connell Schools, Dublin; D·n Dealgan; and Newry. He had the reputation of being a strict but fair disciplinarian.
His years in St Joseph's, Salthill, Galway (1950-53), were he wrote: "The happiest, hardest, most demanding and most memorable three years of my life . . . never have I met a group of boys of whom I thought more or who meant more to me . . . for they were orphans. Never have I seen or heard their equal in reading music." He produced two operettas with them and founded a boxing club.
He once brought them on a visit to the grounds of Cong Castle, where they met John Wayne, who was in Ireland for the filming of The Quiet Man. The big man showed his stature that day by giving the boys more than an hour of his time, listening to their songs and chatting with them.
He was appointed Visiting Loftus Professor at Iona College, New York, in 1982-83. He contributed to many radio and television programmes and was in much demand as a lecturer and judge of traditional music contests.
He shared a love of Irish, history and music with Dr ╙ Fiaich. In 1979, they collaborated in Art Mac Bionaid - Dβnta, an edition of the poems of the 19th-century Ulster poet.
ScΘal na hIomβna was published the following year. It was the fruit of 20 years' labour mainly in the archives of the Folklore Commission, where Prof SΘamus ╙ Duilearga supervised his doctoral thesis. Liam ╙ Caithnia was awarded first prize by the Irish-American Cultural Institute for it.
This 839-page blockbuster tells the story of hurling from earliest times to 1884. During the 18th century the game was patronised by landlords, which explains partly the barbarism described on page 358.
The final chapter on folklore is the most entertaining. It records tales about teams being cursed and seen hurling as pookas on moonlit nights; and of midnight contests between the dead and fairies, with young hurlers being snatched from the land of the living to assist the veterans.
Liam ╙ Caithnia's Bβir∅ Cos in ╔irinn (1984) is a history of Gaelic football before the formation of the GAA. Micheβl C∅os≤g, his biography of the association's founder, provides valuable insight into post-Famine Ireland. Apal≤ga na bhFil∅, 1200-1650 is a study of narrative motifs in bardic poetry, based on his master's thesis.
A confrΦre recalls: "His rich voice lifted our hearts when he sang. We loved to hear him sing: Carrickfergus, An Ciarra∅och Mallaithe, A Spailp∅n, a R·in and many other songs. A man of great learning, yet he was humble and most helpful. He lived what Tadhg Gaelach ╙ S·illeabhβin and other Gaelic poets helped to create in our people: a warm love of God, and a kindly love of neighbour. He was a gentle Christian man, who loved all that was good and human and Irish."
He was last seen on the slopes of Slievenamon, during the Charles Kickham summer school a few years ago. He loved to stay with the Foleys of Mullinahone, in whose hospitable home he held court as raconteur.
He is survived by his sisters Eilish Kennedy, Marion Conway and Bernice Mulcahy and brothers, Leo - who is also a member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers - Laurence and Pat.
Br Liam P. ╙ Caithnia: born September 1925; died, September 2001