The former teacher, senator and president of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Mr Séamus de Brún, died last Wednesday, March 5th, in Limerick Regional Hospital.
Born in the Corr na Móna Galway Gaeltacht on October 1st, 1911, Mr de Brún was a champion of the Irish language, culture and music all his life.
He was known for his involvement in Comhaltas from its inception in 1951 to the present.
He served in every office in the organisation, culminating in a term as president from 1970-73.
Mr de Brún led the first Comhaltas tour to the US and Britain in 1972, and to Libya in 1976.
In 1977, then taoiseach Mr Jack Lynch nominated him to the Seanad, where he remained for 11 years.
"He availed of every opportunity to advance the interests of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and to promote the use of Irish in politics while he was senator," said his daughter, Ms Máirín de Brún.
An adjudicator of traditional Irish music, Mr de Brún was a well-known expert of sean-nós singing.
He was awarded the Gradam an Oireachtas for his distinguished service through the language movement in May 2002.
Comhaltas held a weekend in his honour last September and awarded him the Gradam an Comhaltas.
Mr de Brún is survived by his daughter Máirín and sons Finian and Tadhg.