Seán Ó Riada

I'm watching a VHS of Mise Éire that Dave Lally gave me a year or two ago, sipping a pint, and, realising that I know actually nothing about Seán Ó Riada I decide to check him out on the net. Reading the Wikipedia article, I'm surprised to see that all my preconceived notions of the man are wildly inaccurate. Being the father of modern Irish traditional music, I've always assumed he must have been rather old, serious, fíorghaeiley and stuffy. Heh. He was born John Reidy, left his wife and kid at age 24 to booze around in France, composing avant-garde stuff, then was dragged home by his wife to head the Abbey Theatre's music for a few years, became an Irish language nut, reinvented Irish trad music, and drank himself to death at the age of 40.

I'm sure he must have been a difficult man! Ó Riada demanded that his wife learn to speak [Irish] within three months.

Ó Riada told people that one should listen to sean-nós either as a child would listen or as if they were songs from India. Well, that's right on the money. I think it was my Irish teacher who pointed that out to me; he probably got it from Ó Riada.

I guess it's time for another pint and more Mise Éire. Cheers, Dave.

(no subject)

Bhí an scannán uilig as gaeilge, agus níl mo chuid gaeilge go maith. Tá tuirse orm anois.

Oíche mhaith, a chairde.