I don't know the answers to your questions, but it is possible one of the postAuthorIDs of our J.R.R.Tolkien Biography in the menu there to the upper left may have run across them in their research.
Please stay tuned for further details. Thread: Tolkien in Ireland?
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Welcome to our forum, Webeida.
I don't know the answers to your questions, but it is possible one of the postAuthorIDs of our J.R.R.Tolkien Biography in the menu there to the upper left may have run across them in their research. Please stay tuned for further details.
I don't know the answers to your questions, but it is possible one of the postAuthorIDs of our J.R.R.Tolkien Biography in the menu there to the upper left may have run across them in their research.
Please stay tuned for further details. 
Welcome to PT Webeida. I hope you enjoy your visits here.
I have checked in Carpenter' biography on Tolkien and in the Letters of JRR Tolkien and could not find anything specific to Galway. Tolkien examined regularly for various colleges throughout Ireland so one may assume that Galway would have been included. In fact, according to Carpenter, Tolkien spent so many long hours at this "irritating task" that he didn't get time for research or writing.
In July, 1954 he received an Honourary Doctorate of Letters from the National University of Ireland in Dublin.
This quote is from Letter #212
I go frequently to Ireland (Eire: Southern Ireland) being fond of it and of (most of) its people; but the Irish language I find wholly unattractive.
I will check in other biographies for any information that may answer your question.
I have checked in Carpenter' biography on Tolkien and in the Letters of JRR Tolkien and could not find anything specific to Galway. Tolkien examined regularly for various colleges throughout Ireland so one may assume that Galway would have been included. In fact, according to Carpenter, Tolkien spent so many long hours at this "irritating task" that he didn't get time for research or writing.
In July, 1954 he received an Honourary Doctorate of Letters from the National University of Ireland in Dublin.
This quote is from Letter #212
I go frequently to Ireland (Eire: Southern Ireland) being fond of it and of (most of) its people; but the Irish language I find wholly unattractive.
I will check in other biographies for any information that may answer your question.
Tolkien didn't like the Irish language?? 
It's a beautiful language, I think. I'm very fond of Ireland, by the way. 
Didn't know all this, though. Thanks Rednell!
It's a beautiful language, I think. I'm very fond of Ireland, by the way. Didn't know all this, though. Thanks Rednell!
Thanks guys for your assistance. It is much appreciated!!
Hi webeida! 
webeida,
I saw your question and cut and pasted it to the Tolkien Society. This is what they had to say in response to it. I hope this helps a bit.
I saw your question and cut and pasted it to the Tolkien Society. This is what they had to say in response to it. I hope this helps a bit.
Quote:
An interesting question. His biography says that he was an external examiner
for the Catholic University (based in Dublin) for many years, particularly
after World War 2, and that he travelled around Eire in the process. This
may mean that the University had branches in other cities (as it's hard to
see why he should have travelled otherwise). It doesn't go into more detail
than that, and the Letters mention nothing, which means that where he stayed
is not on record. He was not a student there, as he did not go to Eire till
1949 (Letter no. 165.) (It would be a slightly odd place to study ancient
English if he was based at Oxford, as Oxford is a major English language
study centre, and English is not part of the old Irish language.)His letters
show he was still visiting Ireland quite regularly as late as 1965, and no
doubt later. He said that he liked Ireland but (oddly enough) that the
language (by which he no doubt meant modern Irish, or Erse) did not appeal
to him. So he didn't care for the Irish language, but knew and liked Ireland
(because he went there on business), and liked the Welsh language very much,
but did not often get the opportunity to visit Wales. As for Scotland, he
visited it quite often (on work) but only the lowlands, and I don't recall
what if anything he felt about Gaelic. People who discern a "Celtic air" in
his work are only seeing what came through the myths, not the landscapes.
I hope that helps!
An interesting question. His biography says that he was an external examiner
for the Catholic University (based in Dublin) for many years, particularly
after World War 2, and that he travelled around Eire in the process. This
may mean that the University had branches in other cities (as it's hard to
see why he should have travelled otherwise). It doesn't go into more detail
than that, and the Letters mention nothing, which means that where he stayed
is not on record. He was not a student there, as he did not go to Eire till
1949 (Letter no. 165.) (It would be a slightly odd place to study ancient
English if he was based at Oxford, as Oxford is a major English language
study centre, and English is not part of the old Irish language.)His letters
show he was still visiting Ireland quite regularly as late as 1965, and no
doubt later. He said that he liked Ireland but (oddly enough) that the
language (by which he no doubt meant modern Irish, or Erse) did not appeal
to him. So he didn't care for the Irish language, but knew and liked Ireland
(because he went there on business), and liked the Welsh language very much,
but did not often get the opportunity to visit Wales. As for Scotland, he
visited it quite often (on work) but only the lowlands, and I don't recall
what if anything he felt about Gaelic. People who discern a "Celtic air" in
his work are only seeing what came through the myths, not the landscapes.
I hope that helps!
Ok so he didn't like Erse, or modern Irish, but he did like Welsh and Gaelic (the Scottish version, I presume). Why not Irish Gaelic?? :soangy:
Don't mind me, just overreacting again. But that sure is an interesting answer. The only think that strikes me is that if he likes Welsh and Wales so much, why didn't he go there instead of Ireland?
Don't mind me, just overreacting again.
But that sure is an interesting answer. The only think that strikes me is that if he likes Welsh and Wales so much, why didn't he go there instead of Ireland?Quote:
The only think that strikes me is that if he likes Welsh and Wales so much, why didn't he go there instead of Ireland
The only think that strikes me is that if he likes Welsh and Wales so much, why didn't he go there instead of Ireland
Cause he needed the money Tommy.
Sounds reasonable enough. 
Quote:
Ok so he didn't like Erse
Ok so he didn't like Erse
Its been a long time, but not long enough since i heard that word :P
Quote:
or modern Irish, but he did like Welsh and Gaelic (the Scottish version, I presume). Why not Irish Gaelic?? :soangy:
or modern Irish, but he did like Welsh and Gaelic (the Scottish version, I presume). Why not Irish Gaelic?? :soangy:
Gaelic = English word for 3 different languages.
Irish = Gaeilge
Scottish = G’idhlig
Welsh = I don't remember
Scottish Gaelic is extremely similiar to Irish Gaelic. Sometimes its not even referred to as a seperate language, just as another dialect of Irish. An Irish speaker would be able to talk to a Scottish speaker without much trouble. Its highly unlikely he liked Scottish gaelic and not Irish Gaelic, to him hearing the 2 languages, there would be little difference apart from the accent.
