O Riada pens tune as Gaelscoil turns 25

PUPILS at a school named after composer Seán O Riada performed a new piece from the famous Cork family’s repertoire yesterday.

The children played the unnamed composition from the pen of Peadar O Riada at a celebration of their school’s 25th year in the Cork suburb of Wilton.

From small beginnings with just 17 pupils in 1984, Gaelscoil Uí Riada now has 260 pupils who are taught by 14 teachers, with a strong emphasis on music and drama running through all their learning.

Principal Aindrias O Maolanfaidh explained that the founders, including board member Neil de Faoite who was among those at yesterday’s event, named the school after Cúil Aodha native Seán O Riada as they wanted to honour somebody with links to the Irish language and culture.

“He also taught at University College Cork, which is not too far from us here. We were very lucky today, because not too many schools named after someone famous get to invite an immediate family member to an occasion like this,” Mr O Maolanfaidh said.

Peadar O Riada had sent the music for the new composition to the school in time for pupils from first to sixth class to rehearse it for the celebration, with fiddles, tin whistles and recorders contributing to the harmonies that rang around the school hall filled with staff and proud parents.

Gaelscoil Uí Riada attracts children from around the south-west of the city and beyond, as well as from the local communities of Wilton, Bishopstown and Glasheen. It has been located on the SMA order’s orchard grounds since 1999, having spent more than a decade in the SMA hall and the nearby Wilton Park House.