Niall agus Séamus 'ac a' Bháird (1871–1951)
Robert French photo showing the two lighthouses on Oyster Island (NLI) Séamus 'ac a' Bháird (1871–1951) - James Ward - was a Gaelic poet, songsmith, stepdancer and author, Prince, and later King, of Tory Island, and helped lead the struggle in Donegal to keep Gaelic culture alive at a time when Britain was trying to wipe it from the face of the land. Surprisingly, he was part-reared on Eagle Island and Oyster Island. His father, Neal, became assistant keeper on Tory Island on 2nd November 1867, when he was 23 years old. This was a handy posting for him as he had been born and reared in Burtonport in northwest Donegal. It was probably during this first stint on Tory that he married Éilis (Bessie) Ní Dhubhgáin of that island. Son Séamus was born on Tory in 1871 but his first memories were of Eagle Island. The family were later transferred to Oyster Island in Sligo. He first went to school back on Tory Island, aged around 7 years, when his father, Neal, was tr...