Riobard Mac Góráin:Riobard Mac Góráin, who has died aged 79, was a committed Irish language enthusiast, and a co-founder of Gael Linn. Renowned for his pioneering role in the recording of Irish music, he was also responsible for Gael Linn's innovative approach to film and theatre.
Although born in Dublin, his family roots were in Antrim and Down and he fervently espoused the doctrine of Douglas Hyde, looking forward to the day when Irish language and culture would be embraced by all on this island.
Tomás Mac Ruairí, Uachtarán of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and a former president of Conradh na Gaeilge, described him as one of the "quiet, efficient heroes" of the Irish language movement.
Antoine Ó Coileáin , the chief executive of Gael Linn, said Riobard Mac Góráin was instrumental in bringing the Irish language to prominence in the cultural life of Ireland in the 1950s and 1960s.
"Duine éirimiúil ab ea é le pearsantacht shéimh," a dúirt sé, "duine a raibh bá faoi leith aige le healaíontóirí agus ba mhinic é ag tacú leo. Pearsa shuntasach i saol na Gaeilge ab ea Riobard Mac Góráin agus rinne sé mórán chun comhpháirtíocht a chothú idir eagrais. Maireann lorg a láimhe ní amháin sa chartlann fuaime is fise a choimisiúnaigh sé ach, níos tábhachtaí fós, i misean Gael Linn, an t-eagras a chomhbhunaigh sé agus lenar chaith sé a shaol oibre."
Born in 1928, he was the eldest of the five children of Séamus McGoran and Elizabeth (Lily) Mulholland. His father, from Ballinahinch, Co Down, rose to become adjutant-general of the Irish Army, having previously been OC Southern Command in the late 1940s.
Riobard Mac Góráin was educated at Scoil Uí Chonaill, Dublin , and studied arts at University College Cork, graduating in 1948. Auditor of the college Irish-language society, An Chuallacht, he was also associated with the journal Síol. A member of An Comhchaidreamh, he edited its monthly magazine Comhar for most of the 1950s. With Dónall Ó Móráin and other affiliates of An Comhchaidreamh in 1953, he founded Gael Linn at a meeting in Cork's Imperial Hotel.
He organised the Gael Linn pools to fund the organisation's work of promoting Irish language and culture. Bingo in Gael Linn's Whitehall, Cabra and Strand premises - all former cinemas - raised further funds.
He was closely involved in the development of Amharc Éireann, the weekly newsreel filmed by Colm Ó Laoghaire and shown in cinemas throughout the country from 1958 to 1963, and with all of Gael Linn's major films, including the full-length features Mise Éire and Saoirse.
"We were the first to recognise the talent of Seán Ó Riada," he recalled in the mid-1980s. "Even before Mise Éire, which we made in 1959, we issued an LP of Ó Riada's arrangements which Ó Riada produced."
Referring to the change that Mise Éire wrought on the status of the Irish language, he said: "Before that 'Tá sé mahogany gaspipe' was a common term of derision of Irish. After that, things were never quite the same. People saw that music as he [ Ó Riada] used it was an ally of their history and whether they used or understood not a word of Irish, their perception of the language changed."
He recorded sean nós singers such as Seosamh Ó hÉanaí, Seán 'acDhonncha, Seán de hÓra and Nioclás Tóibín. To cater for younger people, a series of pop singles was released in the early 1960s, including Mí Iomlán which featured Sonny Knowles of the Pacific Showband on vocals. In later years groups like Clannad, Dé Danann and Skara Brae, together with solo musicians Mary Bergin, Paddy Keenan and Nóirín Ní Riain, were added to the Gael Linn catalogue. Riobard Mac Góráin also oversaw the development of Cabaret Gael Linn and Slógadh , the national competition for young performers.
He played a pivotal role in Amharclann an Damer, fostering quality drama in Irish - most notably An Giall by Brendan Behan, which enjoyed international success as The Hostage, and Máiréad Ní Ghráda's An Triail, one of the highlights of the 1964 Dublin Theatre Festival.
A former president of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, he also served as cathaoirleach of An tOireachtas. A member of Bord na Gaeilge when it produced the Action Plan for Irish in the mid-1980s, he also was vice-chairman of the NCEA; the council in 1993 awarded him an honorary doctorate. For many years he was an active member of the Irish American Cultural Institute.
He retired from Gael Linn in 2001. A devoted family man, his main interests were reading, philosophy and music. His wife Máirín, sons Rónán, Séamus and Fiachra and daughter Caitríona survive him.
Riobard Mac Góráin: born March 19th, 1928 ; died August 30th, 2007