Obit: Prionsias O Maonaigh

Subject: Obit: Prionsias O Maoinaigh
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 03:24 AM

The death of teacher and fiddle-player Proinsias Ó Maonaigh of County Donegal, Ireland was announced yesterday.

Proinsias wrote the lyrics of "Gleanntáin Ghlas Gaoth Dobhair", additional verses for the traditional song "Dónal agus Morag" and he translated some songs from English into Irish. He was president of the 2005 "Oireachtas na Gaeilge" (a festival which includes a prestigious seán-nós competition). Proinsias is survived by his wife Kitty and their children and grandchildren. All his children play music and are involved with music. Máiréad is well-known as fiddler and singer with the group Altan, and Gearóid and Áine have been very involved with organising the annual Frankie Kennedy Winter School of traditional music. Gearóid's son Ciarán is also an accomplished fiddler and won an Irish young musician of the year award a couple of years ago.

I haven't had time to look for tributes in newspapers, but I'm sure there will be several.

Subject: RE: Obit: Prionsias O Maonaigh
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 05:31 PM

Ah, this is sad news indeed. I'm traveling to Donegal this fall and was hoping I might meet him.

Michael

Subject: RE: Obit: Prionsias O Maonaigh
From: Daithi
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 05:17 AM

I was staying in Gweedore attending an Irish Summer School there last July and had the privilege of playing in a session with him at Hudi Beag's one night.
He was very welcoming and at the end of the evening rose to shake my hand and we exchanged a few words (In Irish of course!). Another unsung hero!
Dáithí