Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin's legacy celebrated at Cork conference

29 Nov 2024

• Professor Ó Súilleabháin played a seminal role in the shaping of contemporary Irish culture.
• The Society for Music Education in Ireland Annual Conference explores innovation in music education and honours the legacy of those who have shaped the field.
• Thousands of students in Irish universities were influenced by Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin over four decades, through his pioneering work in Irish traditional music and the performing arts.

The life and legacy of Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin will be celebrated at the Society for Music Education in Ireland’s (SMEI) annual conference. Taking place at University College Cork on 29 - 30 November, the conference will bring world-leading experts together to explore music education, research and practice.

The conference will celebrate the recent launch of ‘Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: A Life in Music’, an illustrated volume which captures his wide-ranging influence as an educator, performer, composer and cultural personality. Edited by Professor Helen Phelan, Professor Marie McCarthy and Nicholas Carolan and published by Cork University Press, ‘Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: A Life in Music’ features contributions from musicians, dancers, artists, academics, students, and poets.

Professor Mel Mercier, Mícheál’s lifelong musical collaborator, colleague and friend, will join panelists Mary Mitchell Ingoldsby, Jean Downey, Niall Vallely, and John O’Flynn to discuss Mícheál’s pioneering work in Irish traditional music and the performing arts.

Dr Michelle Finnerty, Lecturer in Music Education and Community at UCC and Conference Chair, said: “We are honoured to host this year’s SMEI conference at UCC, especially as it marks thirteen years since the inaugural event was held here at the Department of Music. Given Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin’s profound connection to the Department - as a student, lecturer, Head of Department - and his lifelong honorary membership of SMEI, it is fitting to return to UCC to celebrate his legacy and the ongoing vibrancy of music education in Ireland.”

Dr Gwen Moore, Chair of SMEI and Associate Professor at Mary Immaculate College said: “SMEI is delighted to return to UCC after many years of growth and success in raising the profile and status of research and practice in the field in Ireland and internationally as council members of the International Society for Music Education. We look forward to celebrating Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin’s contribution to the field with distinguished panel members and keynote speakers, guests, presenters and delegates.”

Dr Jack Talty, Joint Head of UCC Department of Music at UCC College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences said: “On behalf of the Department of Music, I am delighted to welcome the Society for Music Education in Ireland to UCC for what promises to be a stimulating and engaging programme of papers, workshops, and discussions. This year, the conference resonates profoundly with the history and legacy of our Department, as we celebrate the influential life and work of alumnus and former colleague, Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. Through his pioneering work as an advocate for the advancement of progressive music education, Ó Súilleabháin continues to inspire successive generations of pedagogues and we are privileged to honour his legacy as part of SMEI’s 2024 conference.”

Renowned scholars in music education Professor Helen Phelan (University of Limerick) and Professor John O’Flynn (Dublin City University) will deliver keynote addresses.

Professor Helen Phelan, celebrated for her pioneering work in arts practice and community engagement, will explore ‘The music of Being Human: A reflection on music education in a world of misinformation’. Professor John O’Flynn, SMEI founding Chair and a leading scholar in music research and practice, will explore ‘Decolonising or Reclaiming? Critical perspectives and critical actions in music education’.

The event will also include a performance by the Irish Traditional Music Society, introduced by Dr Jack Talty, Joint Head of UCC Department of Music, as a tribute to Mícheál’s contributions to music and education nationally.

The Society for Music Education in Ireland Annual Conference takes place on Friday, 29 November and Saturday, 30 November. For more information visit www.smei.ie