The Glow of the Oil Lamp

About the Book

Memoir of a childhood lived in a poor but happy family in 1940's rural, Ulster backwater. At times hilarious, at times spine-chilling. The narrative reveals many interesting aspects of the historical background and is always entertaining.

About the Author

Born and reared in the townland of Sessiamagaroll, near Benburb, in the country Tyrone, Art P. O'Dàlaigh, B.A. D.A.S.E. (Arthur Daly) attended primary schools of both denominations. He progressed to St. Patrick's College, Armagh, and thence to teacher training at St. Mary's College of Education, Belfast.

He spent his first year as a teacher in Belfast, and then returned to his native parish to teach for three years in Blackwatertown, P.S. The next thirty one years were spent teaching in St. Patrick's Secondary School for Boys, Dungannon, where he specialised in languages, but also taught rural science, traffic education and Irish.

Married to Maureen O'Toole from Co. Down, he is the father of three children, now adults, and has four grandchildren. Together with his wife he has travelled extensively in France, Italy, the U.S.A. and the British Isles.

His great love and interest has been local history, and for many years he has acted as a guide to many groups and individuals, who come to visit his beloved Blackwater valley, and especially the area around Benburb, Moy and Eglish. He has partaken in various radio and T.V. programmes over the years, and has written a number of articles for Dúiche Néill, the journal of the O'Neill Country Historical Society, of which he is the current secretary.

In 1999, he published, Fifty Years in Ireland, the Servites from Benburb, which outlines the history of the Order of Servants of Mary based at Benburb, and contains a short history of the area as well. He has also published a number of short stories, which have been well received in the area.

Over the past decade he has been a finalist in the Bard of Armagh Festival of Humorous Verse and has always been amongst the first five or six contestants. He is regarded as resident bard at the B.A.R.D. centre in the Brantry, where his renderings are greatly appreciated.