Born: 1702 (circa), Ireland
Died: 1795 (circa)
Country most active: Ireland
Also known as: NA
This biography is republished from The Dictionary of Irish Biography and was written by Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail. Shared by permission in line with Creative Commons ‘Attribution’ (CC BY) licencing.
Ní Dhonnchadha Dhuibh, Máire (d. 1795?), poet, was born c.1702 in Glenflesk, Co. Kerry, daughter of Domhnall Ó Donnchadha and his wife Alice (née Ferriter), both of Co. Kerry. She was a descendant of the Uí Dhonnchadha an Ghleanna (O’Donoghue of the Glen), ‘Dubh’ being the suffix of a younger branch of the O’Donoghues who settled in Glenflesk at a place called Anees, near Brewsterfield. Her uncle, Séafraidh Ó Donnchadha an Ghleanna (d. 1678), a poet in his own right, was well known for his generosity to poets and scribes who visited him at Killaha castle, near Killarney. Máire married (c.1718) Domhnall Mór Ó Conaill (d. 1770) and seemingly supervised the building of their family home, Derrynane house, on the outskirts of Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry. Of her twenty-two children, four sons and eight daughters survived, the most famous being Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Oral tradition concerning Máire Ní Dhuibh refers to her wittiness, pride and determination. Her grandson, Daniel O’Connell, is reputed to have inherited her oratorical and intellectual ability.