Ceoltóirí Chualann: Seán Ó Riada and the band that changed the course of Irish music 

Peadar Ó Riada has written a new book documenting the groundbreaking work his father did with a group that featured the likes of Paddy Moloney and Éamon de Buitléir

Some of the members of Ceoltóirí Chualann: Michael Tubridy, Éamon de Buitléir, John Kelly, Anthony Kelly (John’s son), Sonny Brogan with whistle, Paddy Moloney, with Seán Ó Riada behind with Ronnie McShane and Seán Potts. Picture: Courtesy of Mercier Press

“It was new; it was unique; it was exciting; it was ever-changing. It was like colour television in a time when you only saw black and white photographs in newspapers.”

 Ceoltóirí Chualann were like pop stars in 1960s’ Ireland according to Peadar Ó Riada, whose composer father Seán was founder and leader of the band of Irish traditional musicians.