Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/O'Doirnin, Peter
O'DOIRNIN, PETER (1682–1768), Irish poet, was born in the mountainous district to the north-west of Cashel, co. Tipperary. Political troubles caused him to leave home and to settle in Ulster at Drumcree, co. Armagh. Here he wrote a poem on the ancient divisions of Ireland, which led to his acquaintance with Arthur Brownlow of Lurgan Clun Brasil, then the possessor of the ‘Book of Armagh’ [see MacMoyre, Florence], who took him into his house as a tutor for his children and an instructor to himself in Irish literature. A political difference after many years led to a rupture of this friendship, and O'Doirnin left the house. He then married Rose Toner, and settled as a schoolmaster near Forkhill, co. Armagh. Maurice O'Gorman had a school there, but O'Doirnin drew away all his scholars, and when O'Gorman closed his school and walked off to Dublin, wrote a satire upon him, which is still extant. He also wrote ‘Suirghe Pheadair Ui Dhoirnin’ (‘The courtship of Peter O'Doirnin’), of eight twelve-line stanzas, printed in O'Daly's ‘Poets of Munster’ (p. 106). He implores his love to fly with him ‘go talamh shíl mBrian’ (‘to the land of the race of Brian’)—i.e. to his native province, Munster. A manuscript in the Cambridge University Library contains two other poems by him. Some of his poems in their extant versions are in the dialect of Louth, which he may have adopted from long residence in the district, unless, indeed, some local scribe, and not the author, is responsible. He died 5 April 1768 at Friarstown in the townland of Shean, near Forkhill, co. Armagh. He was buried near the north-east wall of the churchyard of Urney, co. Louth, three miles north of Dundalk. The parish priest of Forkhill, Father Healy, had so great a respect for his learning and virtues that when dying he desired to be buried in O'Doirnin's tomb, and this wish was carried out.
[O'Daly's Poets and Poetry of Munster, Dublin, 1849; Works; information from S. H. O'Grady; Reeves MS. in Cambridge University Library.]