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Donnchadh Ruadh Mac Conmara was an 18th century Irish hedge school teacher and poet, known for his bold character. He fled to Newfoundland in 1743 after impregnating a woman. Upon return he jokingly converted to Protestantism, but was sacked as the Church clerk for bad behaviour. 
Donnchadh wrote poems praising Newfoundland, which included an innovative method of mixing languages (the Newfoundland dialect of English, along with his native Irish tongue). At this time, his poems also favoured the Jacobite Rising of 1745 in Scotland.
Donnchadh spent years in Continental Europe - Bán Chnoic Éireann Óigh (The Fair Hills of Holy Ireland) was composed by him in Germany. In his younger years, he attempted to enter the priesthood the Irish College of Rome, but was expelled.
One of his best known later works was his Modern Latin eulogy for Tadhg Gaelach Ó Súilleabháin. He died in 1810 and was buried in Newtown cemetery near Kilmacthomas.
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