Brian Ó Cuív (1916 – 14 November 1999) was a Celtic scholar who specialised in Irish history and philology.
Brian Ó Cuív | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1917 |
| Died | 14 November 1999 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | Scholar |
| Spouse | Emer de Valera |
| Children | 9 |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Celtic studies |
| Sub-discipline | Irish history and philology |
| Institutions | University College Dublin |
| Notable works | The 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