The Ossianic Society was an Irish literary society founded in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, 1853, taking its name from the poetic material associated with the ancient narrator

Oisín Oisín ( ), Osian, Ossian ( ), or anglicized as Osheen ( ) was regarded in legend as the greatest poet of Ireland, a warrior of the Fianna in the Ossianic or Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. He is the demigod son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and of ...

History

Founding members included John O'Daly, William Elliot Hudson,

John Edward Pigot John Edward Pigot (1822–1871) was an Irish music collector and lawyer, who played a key role in the foundation of the National Gallery of Ireland. Life Pigot was born in Kilworth, Co. Cork, the eldest son of the Chief Baron of the Irish Exche ...

Owen Connellan Owen Connellan (1797 – 4 August 1871) was an Irish scholar who translated the Annals of the Four Masters into English in 1846. Life He was born in County Sligo, the son of a farmer who claimed descent from Lóegaire mac Néill, High King ...

, John Windele and

William Smith O'Brien William Smith O'Brien ( ga, Liam Mac Gabhann Ó Briain; 17 October 1803 – 18 June 1864) was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament (MP) and a leader of the Young Ireland movement. He also encouraged the use of the Irish language. He ...

, the antiquary

Standish Hayes O'Grady Standish Hayes O'Grady ( ga, Anéislis Aodh Ó Grádaigh; 19 May 1832 – 16 October 1915) was an Irish antiquarian. He was born at Erinagh House, Castleconnell, County Limerick, the son of Admiral Hayes O'Grady. He was a cousin of the writer St ...

was a principal member and later became its president. By 1860 the list of subscribers numbered 746, six volumes of ''Transactions'' were produced, and the preparations for further issues were extant when it ceased operations in 1863.Ossianic Society
Transactions of the Ossianic Society
Dublin. The group of Irish scholars emerged from competing societies, such as the Celtic Society and the

Irish Archaeological Society The Irish Archaeological Society (sometimes spelled as "Irish Archæological Society") was a learned society, founded in 1840. Among the founders was the Rev. Dr. Todd, who acted as secretary. The Irish Archaeological Society was one of the fir ...

, focusing on the translation of Irish literature from the "Fenian period of Irish history", specifically, the mythological works of Oisín and the

Fianna ''Fianna'' ( , ; singular ''Fian''; gd, Fèinne ) were small warrior-hunter bands in Gaelic Ireland during the Iron Age and early Middle Ages. A ''fian'' was made up of freeborn young males, often aristocrats, "who had left fosterage but had ...

, and the revival of the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

. The manifesto stipulated the membership be entirely composed of Irish scholars, the intent being to distinguish itself from similar societies that catered to Anglo-Irish landlords' interests and influence. Though such societies had credible scholars as steering members the work produced was thought to be influenced by the local ascendancy and their royal (English) patrons. The correspondence of members of the Society reveals a fractious relationship with other important figures of the time, Eugene O'Curry and those of the Royal Irish Academy, and were often frustrated in their attempts to access early manuscripts.

References

{{Reflist *Robert Somerville-Woodward (Department of Modern Irish History, UCD
The Ossianic Society 1853-1863
*''Transactions of the Ossianic Society.'' Irish writers' organisations Revivalists Fenian Cycle