Tomás Ó Caiside

Who is Tomás Ó Caiside?

Tomás Ó Caiside, aka An Caisideach Bán, c. 1709 – 1773?, was an Irish friar, soldier, and poet.

Ó Caiside's family were of Ulster stock, his parents settling in Leacht an Driseacháin. What is known of his life is told in Eachtra Thomáis Uí Chaiside, which he wrote himself. Two surviving copies, one by his friend and contemporary, Brian Ó Fearghail, are kept respectively in the Royal Irish Academy and the British Museum.

He was dismissed from the friary of Ballyhaunis on account of a bad senseless marriage and spent the rest of his life travelling all over Ireland and Britain, as well as central Europe. In 1733 he served in the Duke of Berwick's regiment, and was later pressed into the Prussian army, where he encountered the Potsdam Giants.

He mentions having been in places such as the Electorate of the Palatinate; the Black Forest; Sandhausen; Hanover; Prussia; Brunswick; Bristol; Bideford.

His poems include:

An Caisideach Bán

Béal Átha hAmhnais

Máire Bhéal Átha hAmhnais

Faoisdin Uí Chaiside

Bríd Ní Bheirn

An Bráithrín Buartha