Ó hAnluain, Eoghan (1926–2012), writer, lecturer, editor, broadcaster and Irish language specialist, was born in Dublin on 18 January 1926, the third of four sons, to William Hanlon, an asphalt spreader and carpenter, and his wife Mary (née Kelly). The family lived on Parnell Square until Ó hAnluain was sixteen, when they moved to Ballsbridge. He was educated in the Holy Faith Convent, Dominick Street, and then by the Christian Brothers, through Irish, at Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square. From an early age Ó hAnluain showed great skill as a hurler: he joined the Eoghan Rua hurling team, based in Aughrim Street, in 1949, and from spring 1955 he was a member of the Dublin minor hurling team. In an article entitled 'Sé horlaí os a chionn!' ('Six raised hurleys!'), he described how for his leaving certificate Irish examination he composed a poem dedicated to the beauty of the game: 'there is no greater sight/the four young men hitting a sliotar/each one with his own hurley/the sweetest music ever' (Gaelic Athletic Association in Dublin, 494). Ó hAnluain was forced to quit the game in 1956 when he started wearing glasses.
After his leaving certificate, Ó hAnluain entered UCD and a life-long connection to the institution began. As an undergraduate he joined Cumann Gaelach, becoming auditor of the association as well as an active participant. He also met his future wife, Bernie Ní Chathasaigh, through the Cumann when he was in his third year and she was in her first. In 1959, after Ó hAnluain graduated with a BA in English and Irish, the renowned Irish-language scholar Tomás de Bhaldraithe (qv), encouraged him to spend time in Cois Fharraige in west Galway improving his Irish language skills. Ó hAnluain returned to UCD, completing a H. Dip.Ed. in 1960 and then an MA thesis on the work of the seventeenth-century Irish poet Seon Ó hUaithnín (qv) in 1964.
After graduating, Ó hAnluain spent a year teaching in CBS Youghal. He then returned to Dublin where he taught in CBS Synge Street until October 1966, when he took up a lecturing post at St Patrick's teacher training college, Drumcondra. The move from second to third level teaching marked a watershed moment in Ó hAnluain's career: in the autumn of that year he was appointed editor of Comhar, the highly influential Irish-language literary magazine, and during his tenure he published many of the modern poets associated with the Innti movement, including Seán Ó Ríordáin (qv) and Seán Ó Tuama (qv), and encouraged them to establish their own magazine. The following year he was also instrumental in founding the Merriman schools dedicated to the work of the eighteenth-century Irish poet Brian Merriman (qv). In a radio interview with the Cork poet Liam Ó Muirthile in 1985, Ó hAnluain credited the winter and summer schools with renewing public interest in Irish poetry and in encouraging young writers to come forward (Agallamh na bhFilí, RTÉ Radio, 1985).
In 1969 Ó hAnluain returned to his alma mater when he was appointed a lecturer in the Irish department at UCD. His lectures were described as vibrant, including both English and Irish verse to illustrate his point (Ir. Times, 4 February 2012). As well as his editorial work and involvement with the Merriman schools, he was a regular guest, researcher and contributor to radio and television programmes at RTÉ;, most notably to Buntus Cainte, Teilifis Scoil, Duitse na húdair and Feach. In addition, his contribution to Irish-language publishing was significant: he was behind the publication of Pearse Hutchinson's first collection Faoistin Bhacach (1968) and he edited six of the Merriman society's 'Book of the year' publications including: An díthreabhach and other stories from Comhar (1977); An duine is dual: aistí ar Sheán Ó Ríordáin (1980); Léachtaí Uí Chadhain (1989); Leath na spéire (1992); Ón ulán ramhar siar (2003) and Máirtín Ó Direáin: dánta 1939–1979 (2010). He also wrote in English, contributing an additional chapter 'Twentieth century prose and verse' to Gaelic literature surveyed by Aodh de Blácam (1973) and an article, 'Irish writing: prose fiction and poetry 1880–1988' to The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing (1991). Posthumously his daughter Éilis Ní Anluain published a collection of his essays in a volume entitled Eoghan Ó hAnluain: Creidim fós agus aistí eile (2013).
Ó hAnluain retired from UCD in 2003 but remained actively engaged in publishing, broadcasting and the Cumann Merriman. Throughout the course of his career he directed twenty-four Merriman winter schools, was secretary of the Cumann in the early years, and was cathaoirleach from 1992 to 1997. In addition to chairing poetry sessions, he also ran Irish language classes, recited poetry and was known for his rendition of the song, 'Na Conneries'.
He died in Dublin on 1 February 2012 and was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery. Speaking at his funeral, his friend and fellow-Irish language expert Diarmuid Breathnach described how this 'city-man' had brought such pleasure to rural Ireland, and how his lectures in both English and Irish gave a new generation of students a deeper understanding of poetry and its humour.