placenamesOldcastle
An Seanchaisleán
Local organisers established a newspaper called Sinn Féin in 1902, connecting Oldcastle’s journalism with its public and cultural life.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- An Seanchaisleán · Irish · main form
- Oldcastle · English · main form
Place & story
Patrick Bartley’s local work
Patrick Joseph Plunkett Sheridan Bartley served as clerk of Oldcastle’s board of guardians from 1898 to 1922. Born at Mountnugent in County Cavan, he also worked as a correspondent covering Virginia, Oldcastle and Mountnugent. In 1902 he helped establish, publish and edit the monthly review Sinn Féin. His association with Oldcastle was professional and organisational. [2]
Michael Grace remembers the venture
In his later Bureau of Military History statement, Michael Grace recalled a small Oldcastle group deciding to produce its own newspaper. They hoped a local publication would reach readers who seldom bought Arthur Griffith’s United Irishman. Grace named Bartley, Charles Fox, Liam Sheridan and Michael Galligan among the organisers, and said they collectively guaranteed the printing cost to the Anglo-Celt. [3]
Choosing a title
Grace recalled writing the leading article and heading it Sinn Féin before the paper itself had a name. In his account, Sheridan proposed using that heading as the publication’s title. This is a participant’s retrospective explanation of the naming, rather than proof that the familiar phrase originated in Oldcastle. [3]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Oldcastle. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Bartley,Patrick Joseph Plunkett Sheridan,DIBa0477,2009 · Pauric J. Dempsey, Dictionary of Irish Biography
- Michael Grace,Oldcastle,witness statement931,opening page · Michael Grace, Bureau of Military History
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2011-07-19. How this page was prepared.