Doireann Ní Ghlacáin writes about the feature documentary she has made celebrating the musical and cultural legacy of her grandfather, Seán Ó Riada and his wife, Ruth, 50 years on from Seán's death.
My grandfather was a man named Seán Ó Riada and he died 50 years ago this year. I myself am a traditional musician and broadcaster and had always been vaguely aware that Seán had done some important things in his life. The most significant of his achievements for me was that Corn Uí Riada at Oireachtas na Gaeilge was named after him. Being an Irish speaker it was always the highlight event in my own social calendar every October.
Éist le Doireann ag caint faoina seanathair, Seán Ó Riada ar An Saol Ó Dheas ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
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I have no problems in admitting my own ignorance in so far as my knowledge of Seán was limited. His role was that of a vague historical character in my head. Don't get me wrong, I am not a total philistine. Aside from being a traditional musician and singer myself and doing fairly well at it, I have also spent the last 5 years completing a PhD in Roinn na Gaeilge in NUIG on the development of Oral literature in the Muscraí Gaeltacht so of course I had an awareness of the cultural impact of Ó Riada both locally and in the wider cannon of traditional arts in Ireland. I was however, uninterested.
Perhaps it was the inner teenager in me reluctant to admit that a parental authority figure would have anything of value to contribute and that I knew it all already. Suffice to say in the case of Seán Ó Riada, I did not.
I think its fair to say no other cultural figure inspired so much creativity amongst his own peers and influenced as much change in the institution of indigenous art. Letters and work from the pens of Séamus Heaney, Thomas Kinsella, John Montague, Garech De Brún in praise of their friend Seán bowled me over. Music from ageless maestros like Willie Clancy, Denis Murphy and Tony McMahon in memoriam Seán was breath-taking. To read personal correspondence between Ó Riada, Charlie Haughey and Jack Lynch to name a few was grounding to say the least. His own career was cut short with his premature death at 40 and what he achieved in such a short time is astounding in both the classical and traditional cannons.
Seán Ó Riada - Mo Sheanathair
— Trad TG4 (@TradTG4) December 9, 2021
26/12, 21.20 | @TG4TV @TainMedia @doireannnighlac @doconnormusic pic.twitter.com/92ij0SwrE0
Working on this feature doc with Jim Sheridan and Táin media over the last 2 years I have developed a relationship with my grandfather, although be it, beyond the grave. I have researched every facet of his life. I have trawled through his personal correspondence, I have meet and formed relationships with his friends, his peers, his critics and his family. My family. It has been a turbulent experience to get to know this man. It was very much a one way conversation between him and I, coloured by insightful conversations with amazing cultural figures. I have mourned his death. I continue to do so. But in this documentary I celebrate his legacy too, his rich and valuable legacy that reveals to us the sound of Éire, An Náisiún Gaelach.
Seán Ó Riada, mo sheanathair premieres on TG4 on St. Stephens Day at 9.20pm
