A very special concert at this year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford which will pay tribute to Clareman, Séamus Mac Mathúna, who was Timire Cheoil for Comhaltas for more than four decades and drove that great adventure of traditional music revival that inspired so many.
It will open with a tribute to Clare music and musicians, in acknowledgment of richness of the tradition in the Banner county, and the many inspirational figures who led the way in raising up our culture and passing it onto the next generation.
A proud Cooraclare man, Séamus was a beloved character in the life of Irish music and Irish music people.
He knew where the heart of the music lay and he spent a life drawing that out, from sometimes hidden places, to be heard, appreciated, treasured and played, by countless people across the world.
He was immensely proud spoke of the wealth and depth of traditional music, dance and song in his native Clare, and of his good fortune to have shared his early musical journey with some of the most iconic figures in the tradition such as Willie Clancy, Elizabeth Crotty, Sean Reid, Robbie McMahon, Marty Marrinan and many more.
One of his most prized productions for Comhaltas was ‘Ceol an Chlaír’ in 1978, an iconic album which gathered five of West Clare’s finest fiddle masters, Bobby Casey, Joe Ryan, John Kelly, Junior Crehan, and Patrick Kelly was an instant success and is an enduring classic.
A more recently published collection, Friends of Note (2019) featured the music of some of the finest exponents of Clare music: Peadar O’Loughlin, Paddy Murphy, Paddy Canny and Geraldine Cotter.
“Those who knew Séamus well admired him most for his tireless work in organising and nurturing the tradition,”” his son Lorcán Mac Mathúna, also a singer and composer, said this week.
“For as well as being a superb musician and singer, Séamus’s legacy included growing fleadhanna, initiatives to ensure the flourishing of traditional singing, the establishment of music schools such as Scoil Éigse; the first meeting of Na Píobairí Uileann; the Willie Clancy Summer School, collecting music in the field, recording key artists; driving musical publications, producing concert tours and massive outdoor events; and much more.
This ensemble headline concert, featuring some of the most renowned musicians and singers of the tradition, celebrates the life of Séamus and of that inspirational generation of musicians and visionaries who were central to the golden age of revival of our beloved music.
Amongst the many renowned and celebrated musicians who are taking part are the Mulcahy family, Bríd Harper, Tom Doorley, Eamonn Cotter, Aoife Granville, Daire Bracken, Connie O’Connell, Oisín Mac Diarmada, Eoin Ó Cionnaith, Michelle O’Sullivan, Eibhlín de Paor, Paudie O’Connor, Aoife Ní Chaoimh, Antóin Mac Gabhann, Áine Nic Gabhann, Micheál Ó Raghallaigh, MacDara Ó Raghallaigh, Denis Liddy, Elvie Miller, Michael Tubridy, Micheál Ó hAlmhain, Clann Uí Mhurchú, Máire Ní Chéileachair, Clann Uí Laoire, Clann Mhic Mhathúna, Clann Uí Scolaí, Clann Uí Bhriain, Íde O’Hara, Carmel Gunning, Clare Walsh, Emma Woods, Sarah-Jane Woods, Róisín Chambers, Fiontán Ó Meacair, The Tunneys, The Hannas, Rita Gallagher, Kim Fleming, Seoda Cadhla, Tadhg Ó Chaoimh, John Fennell Dancers, Máire Ní Dhomhnaill, Charlie O’Brien, Bernadette Mhic Gabhann, Martin Dodd: MC Senan Lillis.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.