Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Máire Ní Bheirn and Peadar Ó Beirn)

Máire Ní Bheirn

Bealach Bhun Ghlas, An Charraig. They were called Clann Johnny Johndy Ó Beirn – Máire, Peadar, and Condy. Máire died in 1976 aged 78. The house was built on no man’s land between the townlands of Iomaire Mhuireanáin and An Cheapach Uachtarach.

Peadar Ó Beirn (1900–c. 1950)

Bealach Bhun Ghlas, An Charraig. Peadar was a  brother of Máire (Ní Bheirn). Peadar worked as a fishmonger. He had a donkey and cart initially and after some time he bought a little horse, of which he was very proud. As a result of an enquiry for a tune to suit a radio play, Ennis copied the Teileann tune ‘Tiún Thaibhse Chonaill’ and wrote its story for typing as he had received it from Peadar Ó Beirn, verbatim, with translation (See NFC 1296: 292). 

Although Ennis visited Máire and Peadar only in September 1943 and then only on a few occasions, he wrote a substantial amount of music and song from them. The folklore collector Seán Ó hEochaidh accompanied Ennis on his visit of 14 September 1943: ‘I wrote until eleven o’clock and then we went to the home of Máire and Peadar Ó Beirn and I wrote music and songs until five o’clock in the morning!’ It was another late night of collecting the following day as Ennis wrote: ‘We went back at eleven o’clock to the Ó Beirns’ house and I wrote tunes and other material from Peadar and Máire until three in the morning.’