Samhain – Lá Samhna 1915. Sgríbhneoirí: An Seabhac, Pádraig Ó Conaire, Torna, Tomás Ó Raithile, Dáth do Barra, Liam P. Ó Riain, “Longa Liathbhán. Clár na Seachtaine.

Át Cliath: MacCurtáin, 1915. pp. 16. 255 x 200mm. Original grey printed stapled wrappers. From the library of Sisile Ní Rathaille (Cecily O‟Rahily) with her signature on titlepage. In very good condition.

This explanatory programme was issued for a short series of events, organized in Dublin in the autumn of 1915, to celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Amongst the entertainments proposed were, two plays in Irish to be performed at the Abbey Theatre, a concert of traditional Irish music, and a tableaux illustrative of the ancient festival. Lists of the actors in the plays (amongst whom are Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh and Colm Ó Lochlainn), and the names of the performers at the concert are given, including Piaras Béaslaí, Patrick Delany and Máire Ní Chreagáin (Irish nationalist and concert singer). Poems and short essays are also included. This is the Celtic scholar Cecily O‟Rahilly‟s copy, with her signature in Irish on the title page. She was a student at University College Dublin at the time of these performances, of which, her elder brother Tomás was prominently involved in the organization. Includes articles by Pádraic Ó Conaire, “An Seabhac”, Liam P. Ó Riain, Finneen the Rover, Tomás Ó Raithile. Cecile O‟Rahilly (1894-1980), born in Listowel, County Kerry to Thomas Francis Rahilly of Ballylongford, County Kerry and Julia Mary Rahilly (née Curry) of Glin, County Limerick. She was the eleventh of her parents‟ thirteen surviving children. Her older brother was the scholar T. F. O‟Rahilly (a contributor here) . Cecile was a scholar of the Celtic languages. She is best known for her editions/translations of the various recensions of the Ulster Cycle epic saga Táin Bó Cúailnge.

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