In the 1950s, Irish traditional music was fighting for survival. It was often dismissed by the establishment and ignored by the youth. Then Seán Ó Riada arrived. He revolutionized the genre by doing the unthinkable: he put traditional musicians in black suits and bow ties, demanding the same respect for Irish folk tunes as classical orchestras.
In this video, I explore the life of the man who “woke the nation.” From his vicious feud with the popular Céilí bands of the era—famously comparing their sound to a dying fly—to his creation of Ceoltóirí Chualann (the group that spawned The Chieftains), this is the story of how one man changed the trajectory of Irish culture forever.
I also dive into his eccentric final years in the Gaeltacht, where he lived like an 18th-century aristocrat, driving a Jaguar Mark IV through the bog roads of Cork while composing the music that would become the anthem of a nation.
Timeline:
0:00 – Intro
0:41 – Who was Seán Ó Riada?
1:27 – The Early Years
2:38 – Mise Éire
4:56 – Ceoltóirí Chualann
9:10 – Final Years
12:25 – Giveaway and Best Comment
Credit to : Inside Irish Music