P. A. Ó Síocháin

P. A. Ó Siocháin in 1985, age 80, modelling one of his Aran cardigans. Pádraig Augustine Ó Síocháin (P. A.) (1905–1995) was an Irish journalist, author, lawyer, Irish language activist and entrepreneur, born in Kanturk, County Cork, Ireland on 26 May 1905, the sixth child of D. D. Sheehan, MP for Mid Cork, of Kanturk, and Mary Pauline (née O'Connor) from Tralee, County Kerry.

Journalism He was educated at Kanturk National school, Rochestown College, Cork, and the University of London, receiving a diploma in journalism in 1923.

He was one of the founder members of The Irish Press in 1931, for which he worked as political correspondent for some years. As member of the National Union of Journalists he served many years on the 'Newspaper Conciliation Board' as trade union representative. He was responsible for securing the agreement settling the hours and wages for journalists in the Irish national press.

Editor During the 1930s he was editor of the Irish Aviation Magazine – the national air magazine of Ireland and the New Irish Magazine. Then from 1931 editor of the Garda Review, the official journal of the Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police service, which he edited for 41 years

War Emergency During the war emergency (1939–1946) he served as Local Defence Force (LDF) area company leader and on the district HQ staff, as well as initiating and directing a parish council movement for the distribution of 10,000 tons of turf peat fuel and 750 tons of timber supplies from the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains to south Dublin homes during the war rationing period on a unique share system.

Lawyer Beginning law studies in 1933, he qualified as barrister-at-law at King's Inns Dublin on 2 November 1936. He was called to the Inner Law Bar as Senior Counsel on 2 March 1948, practising extensively at the Four Courts, Dublin, specialising in trade union law, acting as legal adviser for 20 years to the Marine Port and General Worker's Union. and president of CARA, Society of Friends to promote the spoken use of the Irish language, and established an Irish language school in Dublin, pioneering in the later 1950s and early 1960s the big sales boom of Aran sweaters and cardigans to the United States and Canada, later adding a similar range of County Wexford Loch Garman handknits, expanding his markets further in the 1970s to include Europe, Australia, and, significantly, Japan. His sales brochures and book on the Aran Isles were illustrated by the Irish artist Seán Keating.

Politics He was a member of Fianna Fáil from the early 1930s, having been County Dublin's Fianna Fáil director at the 1948 general election achieving one of their best returns, but abandoning them in 1952 due to their lack of interest in furthering the Irish language. at the 1965 general election for the Clare constituency, polling 2.362 1st preferences, or 6.9%.

Other activities He wrote numerous books, on history, law, as well as diverse newspaper articles. He was presiding president of the PEN Club of Ireland in 1956. In the early 1930s as members of the Dublin and District Motor Club, he as navigator, his wife Marjorie as driver, won many road rally trophies. and is buried at Cruagh Cemetery, South Dublin.

His wife, renowned for her greyhound racing, coursing and breeding, predeceased him in 1984.

Personal Publications: Outline of Evidence: Practice and Procedure, Foilsiúcháin Éireann, Sráid Grafton, Duibhlinn 2; Kells Publishing Co. (1953) (2nd Edition 1962) Dlí na Fianaise in Éirinn, An Chéad Eagrán (1953), an Dara hEagrán (2nd Ed) (1962) The Criminal Law of Ireland, Foilsiúcháin Éireann, Sráid Grafton, Duibhlinn 2; Kells Publishing Co. (8th Edition 1988) Dlí Coiriúil na h-Éireann, an 4ú hEagrán, i nGaeilge (1964) Aran Islands of Legend , Foilsiúcháin Éireann, Sráid Grafton, Duibhlinn 2; Kells Publishing Co.(1962), USA ed. Devin Adair, New York (1963), (3rd Edition 1967) Ireland: A journey into lost time, Foilsiúcháin Éireann, Sráid Grafton, Duibhlinn 2 (1983) Ireland: Journey to freedom, Foilsiúcháin Éireann, Sráid Grafton, Duibhlinn 2; Kells Publishing Co. (1990)