In A hidden Ulster: People, Songs and Traditions of Oriel, 2003 tugann Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin a cheart spáis don sagart seo a bhailigh lámhscríbhinní, amhráin agus ceol. I mBaile Úr, Co. Ard Mhacha, a rugadh é 10 Iúil 1878. Ba as Co. Ros Comáin dá athair, John Donnellan, ball de Chonstáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann ó 1864 go 1894, agus ba í Mary Anne Fay a mháthair (taifead beireatais). Deir oifigigh Mhúsaem agus Cartlann an Gharda Síochana gur mar John Donlon a thugtar ainm an athar sna cáipéisí acusan agus gur phós sé bean as Co. na Mí 17 Iúil 1877. Ach is mar John Donlan a phós sé Mary Anne Fay, iníon siopadóra, an lá sin i mBaile Átha Troim de réir thaifead an phósta. Luke ab ainm dá athair agus feirmeoir ba ea é.

Tar éis meánoideachais i gColáiste Phádraig, Ard Mhacha, chuaigh sé go Maigh Nuad agus oirníodh ann é i 1902. Bhí sé in Eaglais, Co. Thír Eoghain 1902-3, i gContae Ard Mhacha ina dhiaidh sin - i nDromainn Tí 1903-10, sa Chreagán 1910-37 agus i Loch gCál 1937-52. Rinne sé taifid de chaint agus d’amhráin cuid de na cainteoirí dúchais a bhí thuas go fóill i nDromainn Tí agus sa Chreagán. Bhailigh sé freisin 300 fonn rince. Is é breithiúnas Ní Uallacháin air: ‘Together with Seán Ó hAnnáin [Seán Ó hAnnainn and Lorcán Ó Muirí [Lorcán Ó Muireadhaigh, he would rank among the most significant collectors in the south Ulster region.’

Seandálaí agus eolaí ba ea é freisin. Ag cur síos di ar an seandálaí deir Ní Uallacháin: ‘Donnellan’s approach to the investigation of archaeological sites, including the cairn on the top of Slieve Gullion known as the “Cailleach Bearra’s Cairn”, was crude and some might say an act of vandalism. He forced his way into the burial chamber with jumpers (long steel chisels used for boring holes in boulders) and blasting powder, rupturing the cervical entrance to the inner chamber. This blunt style extended to the solving of problems among some of his parishioners.’

I dtaobh a chuid tionscnamh san eolaíocht deir sí: ‘He took out a patent on his invention for “possession of an apparatus for the indicating and detecting electrically the refraction of light dated 20 July 1928”. He sent all his research to the then bishop of Derry who, according to Michael J. Murphy, sent Donnellan’s findings and apparatus to James Logie Baird, the Scotsman who invented television.’ Bhí sé deas ar an bpianó, ar na píbí, agus ar an veidhlín, deirtear. Deir Ní Uallacháin i dtaobh na lámhscríbhinní a bhí ina sheilbh: ‘He left his manuscript collection, which includes most of the Mullaghbawn scribe and poet Art Bennet’s manuscripts and much of other local southeast Ulster poetry and story, to St Patrick’s College, Armagh. In 1977, Tomás Ó Fiaich gave much of it on permanent loan to Maynooth College Library.’ D’fhoilsigh sé ábhar ceoil agus eile in Co. Louth Archaeological Journal agus tá go leor dár bhailigh sé, mar aon lena leabhair nótaí, i dtaisce i Roinn Bhéaloideasa Éireann, an Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath.

D’éag sé san Iúr 21 Feabhra 1952 agus cuireadh é i Loch gCál. Gheofar léargas beag ar ghnéithe eile dá phearsantacht i ndírbheathaisnéis an aisteora Vincent Dowling, Astride the moon: a theatrical life, 2000. Bhí sé an-mhór le máthair Dowling agus a teaghlach. Bhí cion ag an aisteoir air ach is mar seo a shuimíonn sé an aithne a bhí aige air: ‘Father Luke Donnellan. Father he was to us; not a perfect one, I suppose, but without him I doubt if I would be sitting here now writing this book. His life is, I believe, an unassailable argument against enforced celibacy for Catholic clergy.’

Diarmuid Breathnach

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