Joseph Stirling Coyne

He founded "Punch"
By Gearóid O Broin
In Ireland's Own Summer Annual 1988

Joseph Stirling Coyne, who was born in Birr in 1803, was son of an officer in England's Commissariat. He was founder of "Punch" magazine in London in 1868 and author of over sixty farces which he wrote for Dublin's Theatre Royal and London Theatres.

ConaIl Mac Geoghegan (1600-40) is noteworthy as author of the English translation of the now lost "Annala Chluain Mhic Nóis", the Annals of the famed Clonmacnoise from the fifth to the fifteenth century. He was a native of the hallowed "City of St. Ciaran" [Clonmacnoise].

Sir Jonah Barrington (1760-1834) was M.P. for Offaly and was an admiralty Court Judge. He is better known, perhaps, as an historian. He had the courage to vehemently oppose the detested Act of Union (1801), but he suffered dearly for his convictions. He was author of "The Rise and Fall of the Irish Nation", "The Social and Political Life of 18th Century Ireland", and "Contemporary Personal Sketches", which appeared in three volumes.

Renowned writer William Bulfin (1862-1910) was also a native of Birr where he spent the last years of his life. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to the Argentine, and lived as a gaucho on the Pampas there, he later became a newspaper editor and owner in Buenos Aires, where he wrote his "Tales of the Pampas". Returning to Ireland in 1902 he travelled throughout the country on a bicycle, and wrote a most informative account of his travels under the appropriate title of "Rambles in Erin".

Offaly can also boast of distinguished Gaelic writers, Carmelite priest, an tAthair Benedict (born in 1897), better known by his nom-de-plume "Maol Íosa", published numerous acclaimed works, including "Eire - Náisiún Céasta" (Ireland, a Persecuted Nation); "Scéal Anama" (Story of a Soul - a translation of the life of St. Teresa, published in 1926); "Lorcán Naofa Ó Tuathail", "An Leabhar Aifrinn", and "Páis Chríost".

Short story writer Criostóir Mac Aonghusa, (born 1906) was principal teacher of Rosmuc National School, and a graduate of Galway University. He was father of R.T.E.'s Director of Gaelic programmes, Prionsíos Mac Aonghusa, M.A. His best-known work is a prize-winning collection of stories entitled "An Cladóir agus Scéalta Eile".

John Fraser, also born in Birr in 1804, was a gifted cabinetmaker, who wrote verse under the nom-de-plume "Jean de Jean". Many of his poems appeared in "The Nation", "The Irish Felon", and contemporary periodicals - notably during 1851 and '52. He was also editor of Dublin's "Trade Advocate".

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