Mary Elizabeth Byrne,

M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

(2 July 1880 – 19 January 1931) was an Irish linguist, author, and journalist. She translated the

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

Hymn, "Bí Thusa 'mo Shúile," into English as "

Be Thou My Vision "Be Thou My Vision" ( sga, Rop tú mo baile or ''Rob tú mo bhoile'') is a traditional Christian hymn of Irish origin. The words are based on a Middle Irish poem that has traditionally been attributed to Dallán Forgaill. The best-known English ...

" in ''

Ériu In Irish mythology, Ériu (; modern ga, Éire ), daughter of Delbáeth and Ernmas of the Tuatha Dé Danann, was the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland. The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic languages, Germani ...

'' (the journal of the

School of Irish Learning School of Irish Learning in 1913 The School of Irish Learning was a centre for Irish studies in Dublin founded in 1903 by Kuno Meyer, who talked of "the necessity of bringing the rish revivalistmovement into direct and intimate relations with s ...

), in 1905. A linguist, Byrne received her education from the Dominican Convent in Dublin, and the

National University of Ireland The National University of Ireland (NUI) ( ga, Ollscoil na hÉireann) is a federal university system of ''constituent universities'' (previously called ''university college, constituent colleges'') and ''recognised colleges'' set up under t ...

, where she graduated in 1905. She received the Chancellor's Gold Medal at the

Royal University of Ireland The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the ''University Education (Ireland) Act 1879'' as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on 27 Apri ...

.LindaJo H. McKim.
The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion
'. Westminster John Knox Press; 1993-06-01. . p. 239. She worked for the Board of Intermediate Education, and helped compile the ''Catalog'' of 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 ...

.Raymond F. Glover.
The Hymnal 1982 Companion
'. Vol. 3. Church Publishing, Inc.; 1995. . p. 361–362. She also contributed to the ''Old and Mid-Irish Dictionary'' and ''

Dictionary of the Irish Language ''Dictionary of the Irish Language: Based Mainly on Old and Middle Irish Materials'' (also called "the DIL"), published by the Royal Irish Academy, is the definitive dictionary of the origins of the Irish language, specifically the Old Irish, M ...

'', and wrote a treatise on ''England in the Age of Chaucer''.Kenneth W. Osbeck.
101 More Hymn Stories
'. Kregel Publications; 1985. . pp. 42–44.C. Michael Hawn
HISTORY OF HYMNS: Irish hymn encourages connection with saints
2007-05-02

References

1880 births 1931 deaths Celtic studies scholars Irish writers Irish women journalists Alumni of the Royal University of Ireland {{Ireland-writer-stub