Uaidhsean a tháinig an caiticeasma Gaeilge deireanach dár foilsíodh ar Mhór-Roinn na hEorpa, An Teagasg Críosduidhe do réir ceasda agus freagartha, air na tharruing go bunudhasach as bréithir hsoilléir Dé, agus as toibreacaibh fíorghlana oile. The Catechism, or Christian Doctrine by way of question and answer, drawn chiefly from the express World of God, and other pure sources , 1742. Is i bPáras a priontáladh é sa chló a úsáideadh in The English-Irish Dictionary. An Foclóir Béarla Gaoidheilge ..., 1732 le Conchubhar Ó Beaglaoich agus Aodh Mac Cruitín. Is ag Michael Tynan (Catholic Instruction in Ireland 1720–1950, 1983) atá an cuntas is faide agus is mine ar an teagasc críostaí sin. Deir sé gurbh é an Canónach James O’Laverty, údar Historical Account of Down and Connor, a d’aimsigh i sean-Choláiste na nGael i bPáras an leac a raibh an cur síos seo air: ‘Hic jacet / M. Andreas Donlevy / Communitatis Clericorum / Hibernorum per 24 Annos Praefectus et / Ejusdem Restaurator / Sue potius Fundator / Obiit 7a Xbris anno / 1746 Aetatis 66 / Resquiescat in Pace.’ Níl teacht ar an leac sin inniu (Proinsias Mac Cana in Collège des Irlandais Paris and Irish Studies, 2001). Tá eolas freisin in Irish Ecclesiastical Record 68, 1946 (‘An Dochtúir Ó Duinnshléibhe agus an Mhídheamhain’ leis an Athair Brian Ó Ceallaigh) agus in Galvia 7, 1960 (‘An teagasc Críostaí in Éirinn’ le hAibhistín Ó Ceallaigh). Tá dáta báis Aindrias in DIB: 6 Nollaig 1746.

I gContae Mhaigh Eo, i gceantar Bhaile Chathail, síltear, a rugadh é. Bhí a mhuintir go maith as agus chuaigh cuid mhaith díobh le sagartacht: bhí a nianna agus a gharnianna ina sagairt. Chuaigh sé go Páras i 1710 agus i 1722 ceapadh é ina Mhaor ar Choláiste na nGael. D’éirigh leis a bheith ina cheadúnach dlí in Ollscoil Pháras. Bhí sé cairdiúil leis an gCairdinéal Fleury agus thug sé an coláiste slán as gábha. Nuair a d’éirigh easaontas idir na sagairt agus na mic léinn ba é faoi deara gur cuireadh rialacha nua i bhfeidhm: ‘Donlevy’s influence secured a firm position for the unordained.... They were thus established as a viable community within the Lombard [coláiste] and so remained until about 1769 when they transferred to a college of their own in the Rue du Cheval Vert, later to be known as the Rue des Irlandais. This of course was after Donlevy’s time, but he can be truly said to have been the founder of the Irish College ... the College of modern times...’ (Tynan). Bhí sé ina Dhéan Teidealach ar dheoise Ráth Bhoth. Deir Mac Cana: ‘... he was buried in the vaults of the College chapel, which subsequently became L’Église St Ephraim des Syriens in rue des Carmes...’.

Bhí meas chomh mór sin ar a chaiticeasma gur tugadh cuid mhór eagrán den leagan Béarla amach i Londain. Chuir An tAthair John MacEncroe eagrán ar fáil in 1822 agus foilsíodh an 3ú heagrán 1848. Agus tugann Tynan an ‘Short Donlevy’ ar an teagasc críostaí Connachtach a thug Máirtin Loftus amach in 1839. Bhí ardmheas ar an nGaeilge a scríobh sé mar is léir ar leabhar Uilliam Uí Éideáin, duine de bhunaitheoirí Chonradh na Gaeilge, An Introduction to the study of the Irish language based upon the preface to Donlevy’s Catechism , 1891. Ar nós scríbhneoirí caiticeasmaí Gaeilge roimhe, bhí sé féin leithsceálach: ‘Is leor mar leithscéal, ar son locht na Teanga agus an Chló, imeacht an Tiomsaitheora as a Thír Dhúchais, tuilleadh re bliain air tríocha ó shin...’.

Tharraing mórscríbhneoir grinn Mheiriceá, H.L. Mencken, samplaí as de Bhéarla na hÉireann a shíl sé a d’fhág rian ar chaint Mheiriceá. ‘The Irishman is almost incapable of saying plain yes or no; he must always add some extra and gratuitous asseveration’. Agus tugann sé seo mar nóta: ‘Amusing examples are to be found in Donlevy’s Irish Catechism. To the question, “Is the Son God?” the answer is not simply “Yes” but “Yes, certainly He is”. And to the question, “Will God reward the good and punish the wicked?” the answer is “Certainly; there is no doubt He will”.’ (The American Language, 4ú heagrán, 1936).

Diarmuid Breathnach

Máire Ní Mhurchú