Dungarvan
Observer 1 April 1961
Unveiling of Plaque to Irish Scholar at Bonmahon
‘A plaque will be unveiled at Seafield, Bonmahon at
3p.m. on Monday next, April 3rd, to mark the place where the first
college for the teaching of the Irish language was founded in 1830 by Philip
Barron. An appropriate plaque was
presented by An Bord Failte to the County Waterford National Monuments Advisory
Committee…The unveiling ceremony will be performed by the President of the
Gaelic League and the attendance will include a number of the delegates to the
Gaelic League Congress which will be held in Waterford city over the Easter
weekend. Philip Barron has been described as the first Gaelic Leaguer and born
in 1802.
The Irish college which he founded is said to have
been wantonly destroyed by a local family who harbored a sense of grievance
against the Barron family. As a result
of his political activities Philip Barron had to leave Ireland and live in
France. He died in 1860’.
Aine Ui Fhoghlu gave a comprehensive presentation to
the Museum Society on Philip Barron. The
plaque is no longer in place and it is now time that a new plaque be erected in
the vicinity to celebrate his achievement.