Paul Walsh

Paul Walsh (; 19 June 1885 – 18 June 1941) was an Irish priest and historian. He was the author of over twenty books and some three hundred articles. Much of his research focused on the editing, translation and analysis of Gaelic texts from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early modern period.

Early life and education Walsh was the eldest of the five sons and three daughters born to Michael Walsh and Brigid Gallagher of Ballina (aka Balliea), in the parish of Mullingar, County Westmeath. Educated locally, he spent a year at Mullingar's Christian Brothers school, and subsequently in 1900 to St. Finnian's College, Navan, where he studied for three years. Noted as a good student, Walsh achieved special distinction in classics and mathematics. In autumn 1903 he became a student at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, again achieving great distinction in subjects such as Irish, French, Italian and Philosophy.

Due to his shy nature he was reputed to be a poor lecturer. In 1928 he was thus relieved to be appointed curate of Eglish, Birr, County Offaly. He was then transferred to Stamullen, County Meath, and lastly, to Multyfarnham, County Westmeath in June 1932, as parish priest, a position he held for the rest of his life. He was made a member of the Irish Manuscripts Commission in 1933; in 1940, he joined the board of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. Genealogiae Regum et Sanctorum Hiberniae, 1918 Beatha Aodh Ruadh Ui Dhomhnaill, part one, 1948 Beatha Aodh Ruadh Ui Dhomhnaill, part two, 1957 Irish Chiefs and Leaders, 1960 Irish Leaders and Learning Through the Ages, ed. Nollaig Ó Muraíle, 2005

Unpublished work A transcript of the Annals of Inisfallen (unfinished). Forty pages. A transcript of the Four Masters annals from the Franciscan autograph, A.D. 42–1170. Six hundred and sixty pages. Catalogue of Irish manuscripts in the library of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth (mainly Murphy MSS 1–58) Norman genealogies from Royal Irish Academy 23 D 17. Sixty eight pages Essay on chronology of Irish annals. Sixty four pages. Parish annals of Duleek, County Meath. Twenty four pages. Parish annals of Doonore, County Meath. Eighteen pages. Historical notes on Meath parishes. Ten pages. The O Neill genealogies. One hundred pages. Christian Kings of Munster (unfinished). Seven pages. Historical notes on Irish bishops (unfinished). Eighteen pages. Notes on the history of the province of Connacht: A broadcast. Ten pages. Connach Mac William families (unfinished). Sixty pages. O Rourke's lordship (unfinished). Eighteen pages. An appreciated of the work for Welsh literature of J. Gwenogvryn Evans. Twelve pages

Legacy

The NUI awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1941.

The Irish Conference of Medievalists hosts an annual ‘Paul Walsh Memorial Lecture’.