John Windele (1801 – 28 August 1865) was an Irish

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...

, particularly interested in early Irish literature and Ogham inscriptions.

Life

Windele was born in

Cork Cork or CORK may refer to: Materials * Cork (material), an impermeable buoyant plant product ** Cork (plug), a cylindrical or conical object used to seal a container ***Wine cork Places Ireland * Cork (city) ** Metropolitan Cork, also known as G ...

in 1801. From early in life he was interested in antiquities, and in particular he studied Irish antiquities. He became a contributor to ''Bolster's Quarterly Magazine'', an antiquarian journal published in Cork, and so became acquainted with a number of Irish archaeologists and literary men, including Abraham Abell, William Willes, Matthew Horgan and

Francis Sylvester Mahony Francis Sylvester Mahony (31 December 1804 – 18 May 1866), also known by the pen name Father Prout, was an Irish humorist and journalist. Life He was born in Cork, Ireland, to Martin Mahony and Mary Reynolds. He was educated at the Jesuit ...

. With these colleagues Windele made many excursions, examining and sketching ruins and natural curiosities. He was particularly interested in searching for the early records engraved on stone known as Ogham inscriptions, and he saved many of them from destruction by removing them to his own home, where they formed what he termed his megalithic library. One of these engravings was later sent to

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...

, and the others to the

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned socie ...

. Windele also devoted much time to the study of early Irish literature, and he made a large collection of manuscripts. He is credited with the design of the

Waterloo Round Tower The Waterloo Round Tower is a folly bell tower in Waterloo village in Ballygibbon townland, 2 kilometers north of Blarney in County Cork , county Cork,Republic of Ireland , Ireland. It is situated next to St. Mary's church on a hill, and over ...

, an architectural folly built in the 1840s to resemble a mediaeval round tower. Windele died at his home, Blair's Hill, Cork, on 28 August 1865. He left a collection of manuscripts extending to 130 volumes, which were purchased by the Royal Irish Academy in 1865. They included copies of many early Irish manuscripts. Selections from a manuscript journal of his archaeological expeditions which was found among them were published in the ''Journal of the Cork Historical and Archæological Society'' between May 1897 and March 1898.

Publications

In 1839 Windele published ''Historical and Descriptive Notices of the City of Cork and its Vicinity''; in 1849 this was abridged and published as ''A Guide to Cork''. He also wrote ''A Guide to Killarney'', and frequently contributed to the ''

Dublin Penny Journal The ''Dublin Penny Journal'' was a weekly newspaper, and later series of published volumes, originating from Dublin, Ireland, between 1832 and 1836. Published each Saturday, by J. S. Folds, George Petrie (artist), George Petrie, and Caesar Otway, ...

'' and to the ''Proceedings'' of the

Kilkenny Archaeological Society The Kilkenny Archaeological Society is an archaeological society in County Kilkenny, Ireland. History The Kilkenny Archaeological Society was founded in 1946.. An older society with the same name existed,. which developed into the Royal Society ...

, of which he was a member from its foundation in 1849. In 1860 he edited Matthew Horgan's ''Cahir Conri'', an Irish metrical legend, with a translation into English verse by

Edward Kenealy Edward Vaughan Hyde Kenealy QC (2 July 1819 – 16 April 1880) was an Irish barrister and writer. He is best remembered as counsel for the Tichborne claimant and the eccentric and disturbed conduct of the trial that led to his ruin. Earl ...

References

Attribution

External links

Windele Collection
Royal Irish Academy
Windele's Cork
Cork Past and Present
Windele, John (1801-1865) Irish Antiquary
The National Archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Windele, John 1801 births 1865 deaths People from Cork (city) Irish antiquarians