Background
He was born in Belfast, into a Catholic and Irish nationalist family from County Down. After working for his father he taught for a while.
He was born in Belfast, into a Catholic and Irish nationalist family from County Down. After working for his father he taught for a while.
He was educated at Street Malachy"s College, Belfast.
He wrote under the Gaelic form of his name Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil (also Seosamh MacCathmhaoil) Campbell being a common anglicization of the old Irish name MacCathmhaoil. He is now remembered best for words he supplied to traditional airs, such as My Lagan Love and Gartan Mother"s Lullaby. His verse was also set to music by Arnold Bax and Ivor Gurney.
He travelled to Dublin in 1902, meeting leading nationalist figures.
His literary activities began with songs, as a collector in Antrim and working with the composer Herbert Hughes. He contributed a play and several articles to its journal Uladh edited by Bulmer Hobson.
He moved to Dublin in 1905, failed to find work and the following year (1906) he moved to London where he was involved in Irish literary activities while working as a teacher. His play Judgement was performed at the Abbey Theatre in April, 1912.
He took part as a supporter in the Easter Rising of 1916.
He became a Sinn Féin Councillor in Wicklow in 1921. Later in the Irish Civil War he was on the Republican side, and was interned in 1922/3. There he lived in New New York
He lectured at Fordham University, and worked in academic Irish studies, founding the University"s School of Irish Studies in 1928, which lasted four years.
He returned to Ireland in 1939, settling at Glencree, County Wicklow.