Pádraig Ó Snodaigh (born Oliver Snoddy; 18 May 1935 – 2 January 2025) was an Irish language activist, poet, writer, and publisher. He worked for the Irish Electricity Supply Board, and later in the National Museum of Ireland. He was a president of Conradh na Gaeilge, the Gaelic League.
Pádraig Ó Snodaigh was born in Carlow, Ireland on 18 May 1935.
From 1970 to 1973, he was co-editor with Mícheál Ó Bréartún of Pobal, an Irish language current affairs magazine. From 1974 to 1977, he was the editor of Carn, the official magazine of the Celtic League. In 1980, Ó Snodaigh founded the publishing company Coiscéim which has published nearly 2,000 books in Irish. In addition he wrote poetry, novels, and historical essays. He co-edited three editions, with Tomás Mac Síomóin, of the political, philosophical and literary journal Lasair. He began a book series in 2006 focusing on reflections on 1916. The series is called, Macallai na Cásca, and there are 24 books in the series thus far.
One of his most famous books is Hidden Ulster, Protestants and the Irish language. Another noted book is Two Godfathers of Revisionism (1991), which contains a discussion of Eugene Kamenka's book on nationalism as well as a critique of the revisionist view of the 1916 Rising in Irish history. Ó Snodaigh argued against the views of this event made by Irish historians F.X. Martin and Francis Shaw (the "two godfathers" of the book's title), whom he claimed are arguing from an anti-nationalist perspective.
Ó Snodaigh was married to the artist Cliodhna Cussen. His son Aengus is a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála. Three of his other sons, Rossa, Rónán, and Colm, are in the band Kíla. His other sons are Cormac and Fergus who owned and operated a security firm for 20 years until 2004.
Pádraig Ó Snodaigh died on 2 January 2025, at the age of 89.
Comhghuaillithe na Réabhlóide 1913-1916. Dublin : An Clóchomhar, 1966.
Paróiste an Fheirtéaraigh agus 1916 Eag. Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, Dublin : Scepter, 1968.
Ua Rathghaille Dublin : Foilseachain Poblachtacha, 1970.
Éireannaigh sa Chogadh Chathartha sna Stáit Aontaithe 1970
An Cómhargadh Dublin : Pobal Teo, 1971.
An Bealach Romhainn - léacht a tugadh in Áras an Chonartha faoi bhráid Choiste na Cathrach, Baile Átha Cliath, mí Márta, 1974 Dublin, Clódhanna Teo, 1974
Litreacha oscailte le Pádraic Mac Piarais. Dublin : Club Chonradh na Gaeilge, i bpáirt le Clódhanna Teo, 1979.
Caomhnú nó athréimniú - óráid an uachtaráin, a tugadh ag ardfheis Chonradh na Gaeilge i mBéal Átha na Slua, 19 Aibreán 1975 Dublin, Clódhanna Teo, 1975
Véinéiseach Éigin: Guiseppe Berto aistrithe ag Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, Dublin, Carbad, 1983.
Cumha agus Cumann: Aisling Design, Dublin, 1985.
Solitudine e Compagnia/Cumha agus Cumann: poesie di Pádraig Ó Snodaigh a cura di Rosangela Barone e G. Lendaro Camiless, Bari - Edizioni dal Sud, Italy, 1986.
Linda: Dublin, Coiscéim, 1987.