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Author: Banim, Michael

Biography:

BANIM, Michael (1796-1874: ODNB)

Although Michael was the elder brother, his literary career was overshadowed by that of his brother, John (q.v.), with whom he collaborated in writing a successful series of tales about Ireland and the verses in Chaunt of the Cholera. He was born in Kilkenny on 5 Aug. 1796 to Michael Banim, owner of a gun and tackle shop, and his wife Joannah Carroll. With his brother John he was educated at Dr. McGrath’s Catholic school. He started legal training but left for financial reasons to work in his father’s business—which he continued successfully until 1841 when the business collapsed. John Banim proposed that they collaborate in writing national tales and the first series was published to critical and popular acclaim in 1825 as Tales from the O’Hara Family by Abel and Barnes O’Hara; Michael (“Barnes O’Hara”) had contributed “Crohoore of the Billhook.” It was followed by several more series of tales, some written collaboratively. Michael’s The Croppy was published in 1828; it, like others by the Banim brothers, argued for Catholic emancipation and reconciliation. The Bit o’Writing a collection of brief tales by Michael and John’s essays for periodicals, appeared in 1838. On 29 Apr. 1839 in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny, Michael married Catherine Dwyer; they had three daughters. In 1842 John Banim died in Kilkenny from a progressive disease of the spine and Michael assisted Patrick Murray in writing The Life of John Banim (1857). He also published a short tale and a novel, The Town of the Cascades (1864)—the first to be published under his own name.  He took a position as postmaster of Kilkenny but illness forced his retirement in 1873. In 1874 he applied to the RLF, citing ill-health and a pension of just £41. In his application dating from the 1830s John Banim had made no mention of collaborative work with his brother and the committee required evidence for Michael’s writing before it granted him £60 which was paid, at Michael’s request, in £5 installments. After his death at Booterstown, Co. Dublin, on 30 Aug. 1874, Catherine received a civil list pension and a further £60 from the RLF. (ODNB [under Banim, John] 11 Jan. 2023; DIB 16 Jan. 2023; RLF file 1937)

 

Books written (1):

London: James Cochrane and Co., 1831