CV Peadar Ó Riada

Peadar Ó Riada


   Born December 1954


Resides at family home 'An Draighean', Cúil Aodha, Ireland.


B.mus. graduate from University College Cork(1976)


General Biography

Composer, musician, choir director and broadcaster, his other interests include film directing and production, bee-keeping, painting, writing, Alternative medicine, culture and traditions of different peoples and history.

Believes in the culture of the individual rather than the culture of the masses.



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Married to Geraldine Moloney of Gleandraoi, Co Clare – they have four children.

  • Director Cór Cúil Aodha since 1971.

  • Graduated UCC Bmus in 1976. Spent a few years as teacher, Co-op manager, Festival director, Commercial beekeeper, broadcaster and educator.

  • He has lived his life in Cuil Aodha near the Cork-Kerry border where he raised his family.

  • He founded the traditional University Acadamh Fódhla in 2000,

  • The Irish Cultural trust Iontaoibheas Fódhla in 1999,

  • The international festival “Féile na Laoch” commemorating Seán Ó Riada (which runs on a seven year cycle) in 2011.


His life’s work is his music.

  • Joined Cór Cúil Aodha 1964 and

  • director since September 1971,

  • He founded the all female choir Cór Ban Cúil Aodha in 1986,

  • The traditional Irish group Triúr (with Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh) in 2008,

  • The traditional group The Drôle (with John Kelly and Eamon McGivney) in 2013

  • and Continuing Traditions in 2014. (with Wajahat Khan)

  • He has been taking his father, Seán Ó Riada’s, place at the keyboards and directing Ceoltóirí Chualan since 1971 on the rare public appearences.

  • He regularly performs with Seán Ó Sé as a duet.


His orchestral work includes:

  • Concerto for pipes,

  • song cycles and

  • chorale work:

  • He has composed extensively for Cór Cúil Aodha and has accumulated a large body of liturgical and secular works for Male Voiced Choir in the Irish traditional idiom.

  • His compositions for Female choir are polyphonic and include several large works as well as choral arrangements for traditional Irish songs.

  • His body of traditional Irish Dance music compositions has made its way into the main stream of Irish music and are recorded by many artists in this genre.

  • There is music for films, theatre plays, events, mini operas, solo piano, organ and harpsichord compositions and recordings and experimental works with found sound and electronics.


Discography:

  • (1979) (Gael-Linn.."Aifreann 2" ) CEF 081 csstt CEFC 081

  • (1978) (Gael-Linn .."Ceol is Cibeal Chúil Aodha) CEF 074

  • (1987) ("Go mBeanaíotar duit" Gael Linn) CEF 125 CefC 125.

  • (1988) (Séamuisín is a tape of music and stories. + childrens Book

  • (1994) "Amidst these hills"     (Bar-None,USA)

  • (1996) "Winds, gentle - whisper"   (Bar-None,USA)

  • (1991 – 1998) - Films:

  • (Dir.) "Fead a' tSeabhaic" and “Doire 'n Chuiling"

  • "Gaoltacht go Gaeilge", "Omós don Sulán", (2 Half hour doc. films) “Cabhair”, "An Tuar Solais", "An Misiúnaí" and "Ridire Shráid a'Mhuilinn" (4 half hour tv docs.)

  • Producer of series "Ceol na talamhan" ("Song of the earth" 13 half hour film docs. and 4 x 1 hour 1996/98) “Fead an Iolair” (The eagles Whistle - Scottish Co-production 1998/99.)

  • 2003 Coineadh Airt Uí Laoighre - Cór Ban Cuil Aodha  (Major polyphonic work for female choir)

  • 2003 Cu-Cú-Ín - Prod double cd Album of singer Máire Ni Cheocháin

  • 2008 Ó Cúm Thóla go Cuil Aodha - Duet album with Seán Ó Sé

  • 2010 Triúr sa Draighean  (Album with Martin Hayes & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh)

  • 2010 Laoi na Laoithe - Cór Ban Cúil Aodha  (Major polyphonic work for female choir)

  • 2012 Triúr Arís  (Album with Martin Hayes & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh)

  • 2012 Naomh Gobnait – Cór Cuil Aodha

  • 2013 Triúr ‘Omós’  (Album with Martin Hayes & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh)

  • 2013 “A few Tunes for our friends” - The Drôle (Album with John Kelly & Eamon McGiveny)

  • 2013 An Móinfhéar Garbh – Acadamh Fodhla Album of Sean Nós songs and singers from Múscraí

  • 2014 Through Banks of Mist – Duet album with Seán Ó Sé

  • 2016 Onór – 1916 commemorative Gael Linn publication (Téada, Cór Cuil Aodha, Cór Ban Cuil Aodha, Mick O Brien & Oisín Morrison)

  • 2016 Buail do Phuc is Liúigh - prod. double cd of singer Danny Maidhcí Ó Suilleabháin

  • 2017 An Crúiscín Lán – producer double cd singer Seán Ó Liatháin

  • 2018 Ceantar Glas Mhúscraí –prod. Double cd Máire Ní Chéilleachair

  • 2020 Cór Ban – Cór Ban Cúil Aodha (Album of Female polyphonic arrangments)

  • 2022 Ceol Rinnce Gaelach Nua (collection 150 newly composed tunes published)


Various compilation, colaborative and celebratory recordings include:

  • (1991) Bringing it all back home Music from the BBC TV series

  • Palm d’Or radio entry sound poem on the Irish Famine for RTE telling the story of the Irish Famine. Incorporating original music, music from Sean Ó Riada archives and original music in collaboration with Christy Moore.

  • Travelog West Cork Tourism – Sound track

  • Electronic


Music for plays:

  • Good Evening Mr Collins with Tom McIntire

  • My Silver Bird with Patrick Galvin

  • Aoife (radio play) with Seán Lucy

  • Fianna Éireann  (Reacaireacht on stage)  Pádraig Ó Fiannachta / Peadar Ó Riada


Film Soundtracks for AnuPictures (Director Dónal O Céilleachair)

  • 2012 - Dreamtime on the work of Irish Philosopher John Moriarty

  • 2012 – Triúr (in search of musical form)

  • 2012 – Scéalta Mhúscraí

  • 2013 - Aisling Gheal

  • 2014 Ó Chúil Aodha go Íona

  • 2016 – Duan Amhairgine

  • 2016 - Ó Dhúthaigh Mhúscraí

  • 2018 - Iomramh ar Chamino


Film Soundtracks for others

  • Requiem for a Civilization on the life of Irish philosopher, politician and writer Noel Brown (Directed Frank Stapleton) (1991)

  • Ballyseedy (Orchestral score for RTE film on the Ballyseedy atrocity)

  • “Tearmain” (Directed by his sister Liadh Ni Riada)


Films directed by Peadar:

  • Doire ‘n Chuillinn (30 minutes tv Film, special award Celtic film Fest)

  • Fead a’ tSeabhaic (30 minutes tv)

  • Gaoltacht go Gaeilge (1 hour film essay 16.9)

  • Omós don Sulán (1 hour film essay 16.9)

  • “Cabhair” (30 minutes tv)

  • An Tuar Solais (30 minutes tv)

  • An Misiúnaí (30 minutes tv)


Films produced:

  • Ceol na Talamhan (TV series 13 progs shot in 16.9 year long archiving project


His writings include:

  • “Amhránaíocht Dúchas na nGael” -a major work in Irish explaining the structure and composition of what is called ‘Sean Nós’ or the old indigenous Irish form of singing which he maintains is so developed as to be considered classical but now nearly extinct.

  • “Scéalta Shéamuis” A series of children's books in both Irish and English who’s purpose is to instill fundamentals and values of Irish culture to children as they grow up and as a counter balance to imported Western culture which is all-pervasive through modern day media. Book one was published along with a recording of Peadar reading the stories, each interspersed with sound tracks suitable for three year olds at bedtime drifting of to sleep. Book two is ready for press and the eventual series is to extend to thirteen and they would encompass all aspects of live as a child grows to adulthood. The intention is to introduce indigenous values and attitudes based on such elements as charitable and noble interaction as well as value for emotions and aspirations rather then say the physical acquisitions or materialism of Western Culture. They are intended to mirror the years three to sixteen in a growing child.

  • Various lectures and talks for public gatherings or radio including:

  • The relationship between Irish and Indian Music (Radio Eirean and Goethe Institute ‘70s)

  • “Aspects of Irish Music” (Seán Ó Riada lecture published 2011)

  • The importance of understanding the fundemetals of a civilization before descriping it” UNESCO conference Bagdad 1991 (Babalonian Festival)

  • “The importance of culture in constructing a nation” UNESCO conference in Brataslava 19 (During break up of Check Republic)

  • Various grave side orations or commemorative talks and lectures and speeches opening festivals and events.

  • Various poems and aggalaimh beirte and contributions to commemorative publications.

  • Autobiography to be published (started in 1987 but still unfinished)


Awards include:

  • West Cork person of the year in 1979

  • “Skibereen Eagle” – 1980 (Music and culture)

  • Italian Grand Prix radio 1998 (RTE won the award)

  • Gradam Ceoil TG4 Composer 2008

  • Gradam an Oireachtais 2011

  • Gradam Francie Mooney 2013

  • Cork Person of the Month for June 2020

  • Árd Ollamh Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann 2022

  • Honary MAsters in Music - UCC 2023


Recording producer for:

  • The Trooper solo LP Johnny Leary Sliabh Luachra 1989

  • Patrick Cassidy harp LP 1988

  • Seán Ó Riada Retrospective recordings 1987

  • Peaití Thaidhg Pheig Solo double album 2011

  • Cú-Cú-Ín 2013   solo double album Maire Ni Cheocháin

  • Eamon McGivney solo cd   2014

  • Mary MacNamara solo cd   2014

  • Buail do Phoc is Liuigh   2016 solo double album - Danny Maidhcí Ó Suilleabháin

  • An Crúiscín Lán     2017  solo double album - Seán Ó Liatháin

  • Ceantar Glas Mhúscraí 2018 solo double album Maire Ni Chéilleachair


Various Projects founded include:

  • The founding of Iontaoibheas Fódhla – a charitable trust to further all aspects of the Náisiún Gaelach of gaelic Nation which he sees as a great nation scattered all over he world who’s homeland is Ireland and Scotland. This is the Trust which has instigated or backed such as Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Cork in 2005 and 2008, Féile na Laoch, The Maoiri visit to Ireland in 2012, Weekends of Philosophy with such as John Moriarty or Desmond Fennel, The annual Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition etc.

  • Féle na laoch to commemorate the life and work of Seán Ó Riada. Held every seven years and encompassing many aspects of Irish life and culture, past present and future. Next Festival to start Mayday 2018

  • Acadamh Fódhla whish is an indigenous University or Academy of Learning which is constantly searching out knowledge and researching Irish indigenous culture. It’s methods are quite different to Western methods and it has four schools – Indigenous Gaelic singing, Land Knowledge (including archeology, astronomy, herbology, agriculture, and other less regular subjects) School of History and School of Energy.

  • Droichead nan Gael – an ongoing project to bridge the two wings of the Gaelic Nation – Ireland and Scotland. The first official function was held in Iona in 2013 attended By President Higgins of Ireland and Government Ministers Fiona Hyslop and Michael Russell on behalf of the Scotland. Each end of the Nation was represented by a poet, a singer, a historian and an indigenous choir and six representatives of the various churches and religious comunities.

  • Various ‘curamaí’ with indigenous peoples from America, Australia and New Zealand.


He occasionally takes part in exhibitions with amateur paintings in oils.

He serves as chairman on various local voluntary committees and bodies.