 Ulick Joseph Bourke was born 29 December 1829 in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, the son of Ulick and Cecilia Sheridan Bourke Bourke was educated at Errew Monastery where he studied Irish under Irish scholar and historian, James Hardiman.At age 16 he entered St. Jarlath's College in Tuam, County Galway, in May 1846.He then attended Maynooth College in Maynooth, County Kildare, where he wrote the "College Irish Grammar".