Clare remembers legendary RTÉ broadcaster

His many friends in Clare have fond memories of veteran broadcaster, Ciarán MacMathuna, who was laid to rest on Wednesday. He was a renowned collector and recorder of Irish traditional music who travelled the length and breadth of the country recording material for Radio Éireann’s archives.
He was long associated with The Banner County following his many visits to record some of the famous and not so famous musicians and singers in the county for his radio programmes.
Born in Limerick in 1925, his name was synonymous with the Irish traditional music scene for nearly 40 years. Over a long period he presented his own programme of Irish music and song, Mo Cheol Thú, on RTÉ radio every Sunday morning. The popular programme started in 1970 and was last broadcast on November 27, 2005. With just one word, “slán”, Ciarán brought an end to the programme and a glorious era on RTÉ Radio. Over the years he shared his deep love of Irish music and culture with people throughout country. He had become to be regarded as the voice of Irish traditional music.
His programme reached into every corner of Clare where it all started for him.  He has a special affinity with the county as his first ever major recording for his popular programme was with famous concertina player, the late Mrs Crotty, in the kitchen of her pub in Kilrush.  Helping him in those days with his mobile recording unit was technician, the late Ned Nugent. For years afterwards Ciarán was a welcome visitor to Clare. Hardly a programme passed without a Clare musician being featured or the county mentioned.
It was appropriate that Clare should have the last say in the final programme when Ciarán featured the Kilfenora Céilí Band.  He said the recording was made in 1968 and it brought back many happy memories to him.
Over the years he was a great supporter of the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay and Éigse Mrs Crotty in Kilrush.
Among the Clare people at the party for Ciarán in RTÉ on to mark his retirement after 50 years in broadcasting, were Muiris Ó Rocháin from the Willie Clancy School, Ennis man and RTÉ Céilí House presenter, Kieran Hanrahan and Nuala Monahan, also from Ennis. Messages were read from many people and Ciarán was presented with a framed version of his musical compilation Touch of the Master’s Hand.
On that occasion the managing director of RTÉ Radio, Adrian Moynes, described Ciarán as “inseparable from RTÉ Radio.”
He spent his early years in Mulgrave, and attended Sexton Street CBS and later graduated from University College, Dublin with a BA in modern Irish and Latin. Subsequently he completed a MA in Irish.  After college he worked as a teacher and later at the Placenames Commission. In 1954 he joined Radio Éireann as a radio producer and one of his first jobs was to travel around the country with his mobile recording unit to gather material for Radio Éireann’s traditional music archive.
As well as Mo Cheol Thú, other programmes which he presented were A Job of Journeywork and The Humours of Donnybrook.
He won two Jacob’s awards in 1969 and 1990 for his RTÉ programmes promoting Irish traditional music. In June 2004 he received the Freedom of Limerick City and NUI Galway and the University of Limerick also honoured him with doctorates.
His wife, Dolly McMahon from East Galway, is also a renowned singer of traditional songs and they met in 1955. They lived in Templeogue, Dublin with their family.
Many tributes were paid to Ciarán from all over the country during the week. They included a tribute from Frank Whelan on behalf of the Clare branch of Comhaltas Ceóltoirí Éireann. He said that only for Ciarán they would have lost out on a generation of Irish traditional musician and singers.
Katie Verling, who represented Glór at the funeral, said Ciarán MacMathúna warmed our souls with his infectious love of Irish music and song.
“His gentle presence on the airwaves with his deep knowledge and entertaining anecdotes enriched our lives. Now that he has gone, we can begin to see how valuable his collecting and broadcasting were for Irish culture in the 20th century. We in Clare were privileged with frequent visits.
“Thankfully Clare had an opportunity to celebrate his magnificent contribution to Irish music in a tribute concert held in Glór in November 2006. Many great musicians performed on the night and Ciarán himself spoke movingly from his seat in the hall. Indeed his family were so touched by the event that they donated to Glór a magnificent portrait of Ciarán by the great Limerick artist Brian McMahon, his nephew,” she said.
Among those who paid tribute during mass was Muiris Ó Rócháin of the Willie Clancy School. He said Ciarán had introduced the musicians of Ireland to one another and the value of his work could never be over-estimated.
Following requiem mass at Terenure College chapel on Tuesday, his remains were brought to Mount Jerome crematorium, Harold’s Cross.
Ciarán is survived by his wife, Dolly; children, Padraic, Ciarán and Deirdre; daughter-in-law, Anne; son-in-law Terry; grandchildren, Eoin, Colm, Conor and Liam; brothers, Tommy and Brian; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.