Seán Ó Casaide Seán Ó Casaide, who has died aged 96, had a passion for music, a love of the Irish language and a lifelong commitment to the education and well-being of children.
He was born on March 16th, 1907, in Mullinroe, Co Longford, the fourth of the 13 children of John Cassidy and his wife, Elizabeth (née Coen), primary teachers in the nearby Cloneen school. Growing up in turbulent times, he witnessed the torching of Granard by the Black and Tans.
He won the King's Scholarship to St Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra, where the writer John D. Sheridan was a close friend and classmate. In his first teaching post in St John's Lane in the Liberties, his class of 90 children came to school barefoot and hungry.
From this experience stemmed his conviction that education is the key to the alleviation of poverty. This and a clear understanding of the enormous challenges that face the educator in deprived areas were central to his life's work in education. He had little interest in material comforts and sent his salary home to provide an education for his younger siblings, after the untimely death of his father.
Tugadh cuireadh dó i 1931 a bheith mar mhúinteoir i Scoil Naomh Phádraig, bunscoil a bhí ceangailte le Coláiste Phádraig i nDroim Conrach: sa bhealach sin bhí páirt aige in oiliúint mhúinteoirí. Mar mhúinteoir óg, rinne sé céimeanna H. Dip agus M.A. san oíche i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath. Lena dheirfiúr Daisy scríobh sé an chéad sraith leabhair I nGaeilge do pháistí bun scoile. Ceapadh ina Chigire Ceoil é i 1937, agus bhí sé lonnaithe i nGaillimh agus i gCorcaigh. Mar Chigire Bunscoile, d'oibir sé in Iarthair na hÉireann (1941-'55). Chaith sé 10 mbliana ansin mar Chigire Ceantair agus mar Roinnchigire i dTír Chonaill, cupla bliain ar an Chlochán Liath, agus seacht mbliana i nGaoth Dobhair. Chuaigh sé go Bhaile Átha Cliath i 1965 agus ceapadh mar Phríomhchigire Cúnta é i 1969.
Nuair a d'éirigh sé as an chigireacht i 1972, chaith sé 10 mbliana mar Eagarthóir Ceoil sa Ghúm. Ba mhinic a deireadh Seán gurbh é ceann de na laethanta a ba shona dena shaol, an lá gur thosaigh sé féin agus a athair le chéile a fhoghlaim Gaeilge, agus é mar dhéagóir sa bhaile tar éis bunú an tSaorstáit. Chuaigh Dubhglas de hÍde i bhfeidhm go mór air, agus é ina mhac léinn aige in Ollscoil na hÉireann.
He had a lifelong involvement with choirs, bands and the teaching of Irish and classical music. Under his guidance the Scoil Naomh Phádraig tin-whistle band frequently performed on 2RN Radio. In 1935 he founded the choir of Craobh an Chéitinnigh, Conradh na Gaeilge, in which three of his brothers sang. He supported the work of Irish composers, convincing the minister of education in 1936 to assist the impoverished Carl Hardebeck with a yearly stipend of £150.
He introduced many children to music, most famously his niece, Geraldine O'Grady. He was enormously proud and supportive of his musical relatives, including the O'Grady family, Frank Patterson and Patrick Cassidy, all of whom consulted him on Irish music. In his later years he enjoyed his role as honorary taoiseach of the reconstituted Cassidy Clan.
Bhailíodh Seán seanamhráin sa Ghaeltacht, ó dhaoine mar Róise na nAmhrán i nÁrainn Mhór. Bhí sé mar mholtóir sean-nóis san Oireachtas ar feadh blianta fada, mar a raibh teagmháil aige le ceoltóirí móra na linne, cosúil le Seán Ó Riada agus Seosamh Ó hÉanaí. Ar theacht go Baile Átha Cliath dó sna seascaidí, ba mhór an chúis misnigh dó an "mion ghaeltacht" i Ranallach, mar a raibh mórán teaglaigh le Gaeilge. Nuair a bunaíodh an dara Gaelscoil i Ranallach i 1995, ba é Seán a bhaist Lios na nÓg uirthi.
His songs for children such as Teidí Beag Álainn, are a fitting testimony to his great fondness for the young. His talents for composition and harmonisation were particularly valued by his own family, the group Na Casaidigh. Imbued by a deep faith, he composed an Irish Mass for the church choir which he conducted in Ranelagh for 36 years.
Cúis mhór bróin a bhás dá bhean chéile, a chompánach ionúin, Nóirín, dá thriúr iníon Fionnula, Ailbhe agus Caitríona, dá sheachtar mac Ruairí, Ciarán, Feargus, Fionntán, Aongus, Odhrán agus Seathrún. Cailliúint mhór fosta dá thriúr dearthár a mhaireann, Kevin, Martin agus Brendan.
Seán Ó Casaide: born March 16th, 1907; died September 3rd, 2003