Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha

Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha
Senator
In office
22 May 1957  19 November 1964
In office
14 August 1951  22 July 1954
In office
18 August 1944  21 April 1948
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
Personal details
Born(1883-03-10)10 March 1883
Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland
Died19 November 1964(1964-11-19) (aged 81)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partyIndependent
SpouseSiobhán Ní Shúilleabháin
Children1

Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha (Irish pronunciation: [ˈpˠaːd̪ˠɾˠəɟ ʃʊˈxɾˠuː]; 10 March 1883 – 19 November 1964) and his brother Mícheál Ó Siochfhradha were Irish language writers, teachers and storytellers, from Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland.

Pádraig Ó Siochfhradha wrote under the Irish pen-name An Seabhac (pronounced [ənˠ ˈʃəuk]; "The Hawk"; contemporary spelling An Seaḃac). His most famous book is the semi-autobiographical comedy Jimín Mháire Thaidhg, published in 1919, which follows Jimín's childhood under the control of his powerful mother, Máire. Ó Siochfhradha became an active organiser for the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was imprisoned three times for his activities.

He was an independent member of Seanad Éireann from 1946 to 1948, 1951 to 1954, and 1957 to 1964, being nominated by the Taoiseach on each occasion. He was secretary to the Irish Manuscripts Commission from October 1928 to October 1932.

The Irish postal service, An Post, released a 26 pence postage stamp on 7 April 1983 bearing a portrait of Ó Siochfhradha to commemorate the centenary of his birth.