2004 Press Releases
O'Donoghue Assists UCC in acquiring Seán Ó Riada Archive
John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and Professor
Gerry T. Wrixon, President of University College Cork (UCC) today
(Wednesday, 22nd December, 2004) announced, in a joint statement, the
acquisition by UCC of the Seán Ó Riada Archive with special financial
assistance from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Minister O'Donoghue announced the provision of a grant of €500,000 to UCC
towards their acquisition of the archive and a supplementary €100,000 is
being made available to the University towards security, conservation and
public exhibition of the collection.
The Ó Riada Archive comprises a vast collection of documents, papers and
correspondence together with some personal artefacts of the late Seán Ó
Riada - eminent musician, composer, playwright and revivalist of Irish
music.
Minister O'Donoghue said "I am very pleased to join with the President in
this announcement that the archive of this outstanding Irishman has been
acquired. It is timely that his work and legacy will be permanently
safeguarded and displayed in UCC as Cork begins its period at the centre of
Europe's cultural life, as European Cultural Capital 2005. I applaud the
College for making the acquisition and I am pleased to have been able to
assist."
The University President 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. Later, in the Sixties, he held the post of Lecturer in
Irish Music in the College." Prof. Wrixon added: "I am very pleased to be
able to announce this major acquisition by the College with Minister John
O'Donoghue. This is a collection that is immensely important in the
cultural and musical history of this country. 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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