Sean Nós Singer 1973

A lament from old style unaccompanied singer Darach Ó Catháin.

Born in An Máimín, Leitir Móir in the Connemara Gaeltacht in 1922 Darach Ó Catháin (also known as Dudley Keane) moved to Ráth Chairn in County Meath with his family in 1935.

The seventh of twelve children, he had a love of singing from an early age and learned many songs from his mother. By the 1950s he was recognised as a sean-nós singer of renown.

Having met Seán Ó Riada at an Oireachtas na Gaeilge festival he was invited by the composer to perform on the Radio Éireann traditional music series 'Reacaireacht an Riadaigh' with Ceoltóirí Chualann in the early 1960s. An album with the same title was released by Gael Linn in 1961.

In 1963 Darach Ó Catháin emigrated to Leeds with his wife Bríd and their children where he works as a builder.

Presenter Tony MacMahon introduces Darach Ó Catháin as,

Duine de na h-amhránaithe is na ceoltóirí is fearr dá bhfuil againn.

Darach Ó Catháin performs 'Liam Ó Raghallaigh’ a lament for a man who drowned in an accident not long after his wedding day.

This episode of ‘Ag Déanamh Cheoil’ was broadcast on 17 April 1973. The presenter is Tony MacMahon.

'Ag Déanamh Ceoil' was first broadcast on 14 May 1971 as a summer series of traditional Irish music, presented by Tony MacMahon with singers, musicians and dancers from the four provinces of Ireland. It was made with the co-operation of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. It returned for a second series on 12 October 1971, this time introducing some of the biggest names in Irish traditional music, many of whom had never appeared on television before. The third and final series ended on 17 April 1973.