2005 Press Releases

08 Jun 2005

Ó Riada Collection presented to An Taoiseach at University College Cork (UCC), 8 June



An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD was today (8 June 2005) presented with The Ó Riada Collection on behalf of Ireland and UCC. The collection contains Seán Ó Riada's library and will be housed in UCC's Boole Library.

The library of 2000 volumes contains books on music, science fiction, mathematical puzzles, an array of material on film and film-making, poetry, thrillers, work by Huxley, Burgess and Kerouak. The collection also contains what the family refers to as the last Kerry harp, a beautiful sixteenth century instrument as well as a late 18th century Walton harp, all his editing equipment and cameras, his tin whistles, piano, his walking sticks, graduation robes, fishing rod, some furniture, made in and around the Macroom area, including his personal armchair, a large family photographic archive and voluminous correspondence between Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Cualann, The Abbey Theatre, RTÉ, The Irish Times, Cór Chúil Aodha, and many other people and organisations. The many love letters between his wife, Ruth and himself are also part of the collection which demonstrate the deep love they shared for one another.

The collection contains the original scores of all the major Ó Riada works, Mise Éire, Hercules and the Nomos series, and expert conservation advice will be sought concerning these documents - a national treasure in their own right.  The collection will foster a whole new area of Ó Riada scholarship, building on the excellent work already published - Seán Ó Riada: A Shaol agus a Shaothar, Tomás Ó Canainn & Gearóid Mac an Bhua, (Gartan 1993) and Seán Ó Riada: His Life and Work, Tomás Ó Canainn (The Collins Press, 2003).

UCC Librarian, John FitzGerald said "Undoubtedly, the richest part of the archive concerns his work. There are many original scores - I don't know if they have ever been heard - there are two unpublished plays, one of them, titled Sophocles, for which there is a handwritten script, a script for a musical, poetry by Ó Riada, his diary, Ruth's diary, a recipe for poteen, correspondence between Seán and Kinsella, Montague, Friel and Ó Riordán. It is intended to re-name one of the reading rooms in the new library extension, due to open in June 2007, Seomra Uí Riada in his honour".  He added "I think for many years to come, scholars will avail of this rich collection and use it to gain a deeper understanding of Ó Riada's life and work" .  He also expressed his gratitude to the O Riada family "I am quite certain the collection will give rise to further serious academic research and I am grateful to the Ó Riada family members, Peadar, Rachel, Eoin, Cathal, Allasdar, Liadh and Sorcha, for treating it with such great care and for ensuring that it will now find a permanent home in UCC."

UCC President, Professor Gerard Wrixon said "It is entirely appropriate that UCC should become the final repository of this collection of Seán Ó Riada's own material as it was here that he formally studied music, graduating with a BMus in 1952 and in 1963 appointed lecturer in the Music Department.  This is a collection that is immensely important in the cultural and musical history of this country."

The Presentation took place at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC  to the accompaniment of surviving members of Ó Riada's ensemble,  Ceoltoirí Chúlainn - Martin Fay, Seán Potts, Seán Keane, Éamon de Buitléir, Ronnie McShane, Seán Ó Sé (singer), Michael Tubridy accompanied by Mel Mercier and John Kelly, sons of founding members Peadar Mercier and John Kelly.

The acquisition has been facilitated by the UCC Foundation and with the partnership support of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism,

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