MÍCHEÁL Ó hEIDHIN, who has died, was a former schools inspector and director of the Teastas i dTeagasc Ceolta Tíre (TTCT) diploma course for music teachers. He also was an accomplished musician, playing the accordion and concertina.
In 1980, Labhrás Ó Murchú, ard stiúrthóir of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), approached him with the idea of devising a system to improve the standards of teaching Irish traditional music.
His greatest challenge was to arrive at a pleasing improvement in teaching methods while ensuring that this improvement would protect the music and its varying styles and allow it to progress, intact, through time.
The early classes, tutored by CCÉ’s leading teachers, focused on instrumental music. There were also sean-nós classes under the auspices of the Gael Acadamh, based in Spiddal, of which Ó hEidhin was chairman. After careful evaluation, the new approach was formally adopted by CCÉ.
The second phase of the system was developed in conjunction with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and the joint CCÉ/RIAM syllabus for young traditional musicians was launched in 1998.
Ó Murchú praised Ó hEidhin’s pivotal role in the development of the organisation’s education programme. He said he drew on his Gaeltacht experience, particularly sean-nós singing, to make the riches of the Irish cultural tradition available in Britain and the US.
Born in Baile na hAbhann, Ros a’ Mhíl, Connemara, he came from a musical background. His father played fiddle and concertina, his mother melodeon, and they regularly performed on 2RN, forerunner of Raidió Éireann.
Ó hEidhin studied science at University College Galway. He sat a music scholarship for a bet, which he passed. This led him to University College Cork where he studied music under Prof Aloys Fleischmann.
He organised the first traditional music concert in Cork City Hall in 1961 and played for several years with the Brosna céilí band.
On returning to his native county in 1963, he became music organiser for Galway VEC, later forming the Connemara Quartet. He adjudicated at Slógadh from its inception in 1968 and at the Oireachtas.
He was music director for such radio and television programmes as In Song and in Story, Guth na nÓgand Bring Down the Lamp. He regularly broadcast on Raidió na Gaeltachta and was included in various compilation albums. Publications include Cas Amhrán, Amhráin do Choláistíand Déan Rince.
Last year Ceol Sidhe, his album with Steve Cooney and Charlie Lennon, was released to critical acclaim. Mick Furey in The Living Traditionmagazine praised his "sensitive and spirited" concertina playing. "It's a wonder to me why Ó hEidhin has waited so long to record his music . . . People with his talent ought to make records; there are enough people with much less talent doing it."
He joined the Department of Education in 1966, retiring in 2001. He was awarded CCÉ’s supreme honour of Ard Ollamh at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2007.
He is survived by his wife Máire, daughters Niamh, Fionnuala and Meadhbh and sons Rónán, Séamus and Dara.
Mícheál Ó hEidhin: born 1938; died January 29th, 2012