He was born in Carrignavar, County Cork, which was an Irish-speaking area, and educated there and at St Patrick's Teacher Training College, Drumcondra, Dublin. In 1901 he became editor of the Irish-language newspaper Banba, and also became Irish-language editor of the Freeman's Journal. The following year he also became editor of the Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge. He wrote under the pseudonym Tórna. With Máire Ní Chinnéide, Seán Ó Ceallaigh, and Séamus Ó Braonáin he drew up the first rules for the new game of camogie in 1903. He also invented the name of the game, which comes from the stick used, called a camán. He first came to notice when he edited the work of Máire Bhuidhe, the folk poet of West Cork and author of "Cath Céim an Fhíodha". In 1905 he published his first book of poems, Leoithne Andeas. When in 1909 publication of the Irisleabhar ceased he took the opportunity to visit Heidelberg University to study Old Irish under Ludwig Mühlhausen. On his return he was appointed Professor of Irish at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra. In 1916 he became Professor of Irish and later Dean of the Faculty of Celtic Studies at University College Cork, where he remained until his death. He published a handbook for students on the art of writing Irish poetry, Bhéarsaiocht Ghaeilge and wrote many text books on Irish Grammar. He edited important collections of Irish manuscripts including the poetry of Diarmaid Mac Sheáin Bhuídhe Mac Cárthaigh, published in Dublin 1916. He was a collector of songs who revitalised interest in the work of West Cork poets Sean Ó Coilean, Doncha Ó Suilleabháin and Michael Chormaic. He translated a large number of works, fiction and non-fiction, poetry and songs, into Irish, including the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Molière’s Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Around the world in 80 days, the works of Pádraig Colum, Lady Gregory, George Moore and Jules Verne into Irish. He edited the works of Aodhagán Ó Rathaille and Pádraigín Haicéad, among others. His last work was Seanfhochail na Mumhan. Other works included editions of the poetry of Seán Ó Murchada na Ráithineach for the Gaelic League, the poetry of Aodhagáin Ó Rathaille for the Irish Text Society and poetry of An tAth Pádraigín Haicéad and the Leabhair Clainne Aodha Buidhe I, for the Manuscripts Commission. His brother Eamon O’Donoghue was author of Slán le Corcaigh and Drúcht Geal Ceoidh, also a professor of Irish in UCC. Another brother, Donncha O’Donoghue, was Parish Priest of Tracton in Cork. His sister, Cáit Ní Dhonnchadha, was an Irish language and camogie enthusiast.
Legacy
He died on October 23, 1949 and was buried in St Finbarr’s Cathedral. The attendance at his funeral included Éamon de Valera. The Southern Star described him as “acknowledged peer of writers of Irish poetry, the gentlest and most unpretentious of Corkmen, the great Tórna, whose name was heard of everywhere readers of Irish are to be found at home or overseas.”
