Broadcaster remembered fondly in the heartlands of traditional music

AS the funeral of Ciarán MacMathuna was taking place in Dublin yesterday, the legendary broadcaster was remembered in the heartlands of traditional music where he harvested Irish music and song over nearly 50 years.

Flags flew at half mast in his native city of Limerick of which he was a Freeman. Ciarán MacMathuna was brought up in St John’s Avenue, Mulgrave Street, and received his early education at CBS Sexton Street before going on to study engineering at UCD.

After graduating in 1949, he got a job with the Placenames Commission which necessitated travelling around rural Ireland carrying out research.