De Hindeberg Library

The De Hindeberg Library is home to a rich collection of books, manuscripts, photographs and audio files.

The De Hindeberg Library is managed by Coláiste na Rinne and curated by the Library Committee, whose Convenor is Dr Aoibheann Nic Dhonnchadha, a past pupil of Scoil na Leanaí.

The collection of books and manuscripts left by Dr. Risteard de Hindeberg (1863-1916) to Coláiste na Rinne is the foundation of the Library today.

The De Hindeberg collection consists of circa. 200 books. Among the other gems to have been gifted to the library thereafter is a copy of Keating’s `Forus Feasa ar Éirinn’ written by Pádraig Ó Cearmada.

The De Hindeberg Library is also home to the most extensive audio collection of Déise Irish in existence.

Manuscripts and Books

The De Hindeberg library is situated in the main building of the 25-acre campus at Coláiste na Rinne. It contains a collection of books and manuscripts bequeathed to the College by one of its esteemed founders, Dr. Risteard de Hindeberg.

Among the most valuable treasures in this bequest are Irish manuscripts dating from the 19th century, which Dr. de Hindeberg had acquired at various periods during his life and which he had bound some years prior to his death. These include manuscripts by such well-known figures as Amhlaoibh Ó Súilleabháin (1780-1838), Callan, Co. Kilkenny, writing in 1812 and Mícheál Óg Ó Longáin (1766-1837), writing in Carrignavar, Co. Cork, in 1813.

The bequest also contains manuscripts by two otherwise unattested scribes, Seán Ó Súilleabháin, Rylane, Aghabulloge, Co. Cork, writing in 1819 and Tomás Ó hÉigeartaigh, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, writing in 1839.

Among the more valuable books in the bequest are facsimiles of medieval Irish manuscripts: Leabhar na hUidhre (1870), An Leabhar Breac (1872-6), Leabhar Laighean (1880) and Leabhar Bhaile an Mhóta (1887).

There are several journals and a number of copy-books in the collection. The copy-books comprise notes in German that Risteard took while he was attending lectures in Freiburg and in Greifswald in 1896-8. They contain occasional sentences in Irish.

Other treasures were gifted to the Library thereafter:

• Liam Ó Míodhacháin (1874-1960), author, scholar and businessman, presented a copy of Keating’s `Foras Feasa ar Éirinn’, transcribed in 1893-4 by Pádraig Ó Cearmada, Mill House, Kilrossanty, Co. Waterford.
• Among the best known and most researched of the Library’s holdings is a collection of notebooks in Irish, written by Archbishop Michael Sheehan (1870–1945) and presented to the College in 1945 by Nicholas Barron, the Archbishop’s nephew. These formed the basis for a major research work by Risteard B. Breatnach, Sean-chaint na nDéise II: Studies in the vocabulary and idiom of Déise Irish based mainly on material collected by Archbishop Michael Sheehan (1870–1945) (Dublin 1961).
• In 1997, Tomás Ó Cadhla, Gort na Daibhche, An Rinn, presented a collection of papers that had belonged to his uncle, Seaán Ó Cadhla (1884-1918), author of Cathair Phortláirge agus na Déise (1917).
• In 2013 Seán Mac Cárthaigh, Dungarvan, donated on permanent loan a manuscript written during the period 1848-50 in Ballykeroge, Kilrossanty, by Nicholas Foran and members of the Gough family.

Audio Collection

Dr Piaras de Hindeberg, a nephew of Dr. Risteard de Hindeberg, was a native of Portlaw. Following his uncle’s example, he too devoted his life to the study and promotion of the Irish Language. In 1997, Dr. Diarmaid Ó hAirt presented to the College a collection of tapes made by Dr Piaras, recordings that comprise several hundred hours of speech, and some songs, collected from the best of Déise speakers. This is the largest collection of Déise Irish recordings in existence. To listen to excerpts of this rich collection select from the samples below.

The recordings have been digitised in the Coláiste and meticulously catalogued by Dr Míchéal Ó Drisleáin, who has also made some of the recordings available on CD entitled:

An Grá dod Dhúchas: Amhráin agus seanchas a bhailigh an Dr Piaras de Hindeberg, S.J., ins na Déise (Coláiste na Rinne, Rinn Ó gCuanach 2012).

Library Exhibitions and Tours

Coláiste na Rinne is delighted to share the riches of the De Hindeberg Library, its books, manuscripts, photographs and audio files with visitors by appointment. Exhibitions and tours of the Library can be arranged for individuals, school / university groups, active retirement groups, history / cultural societies etc.

For example, groups of up to ten people can avail of a formal presentation about the De Hindeberg Library, followed by a guided tour of the archival library’s contents. The session can conclude with an open discussion over complimentary light refreshments in the Coláiste’s dining room. As a guideline and a group presentation and tour (max 10 persons), lasting about two hours, costs €200.

We are happy to tailor the tour to the requirements of our visitors.