Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin: A Life in Music, edited by his wife Helen Phelan, Marie McCarthy, and Nicholas Carolan, is an anthology of poems, essays, and thoughts influenced by his musical life.
Contributions from musicians, dancers, artists, scholars, students, poets, and media figures are included in this book that examines the complex life of one of Ireland's most well-known musicians.
His life is richly illustrated by people who knew and collaborated with him, capturing his diverse effect as a performer, composer, educator, and cultural figure.
Such a poignant, heartfelt, collegial & inclusive launch @UL yesterday of the tome honouring the giant on the #Irishmusic landscape that was the late Prof Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin! Outstanding work by eds Helen, Marie & Nicholas in their vision.A joy to be among 100+ contributors. https://t.co/eLmq4S5WUQ pic.twitter.com/ijpngy54gz
— Regina Murphy, PhD (@RMurphyPhD) October 23, 2024
The contributions span from the academic and personal to the anecdotal and poetic. Since his initial media appearances in the 1970s, Ó Súilleabháin has been in the spotlight.
Over the course of four decades, he inspired thousands of students at Irish colleges, particularly through his groundbreaking contributions to the performing arts and Irish traditional music.
Compositions like Woodbrook and Oíche Nollag/Christmas Eve became family classics over his multi-album recording career.
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