Originally in a file marked ‘Seán Ó Riada’ (Ó Riada, Seán, 1931-1971) these documents seem to have once belonged to Len Clifford, Seapoint Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, a solicitor who worked in the administrative section of Gael Linn Records, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Clifford set up a talent agency in the early 1970s, his primary client was Seán Ó Riada.
Copy of a letter from Séamus Gallagher, Students Representative Council (S.C.R), College of Technology, Bolton St, Dublin 1 to Len Clifford, Gael Linn, Grafton St, Dublin 2; draft & original correspondence from Len Clifford (Leon Ó Clúmháin) to musicians and singers including Seán Mac Donncha (Mac Donncha, Seán, 1919-1996), Willie Clancy (Clancy, Willie, 1918-1973), Tony Mac Mahon and Seán Ó Ceallaigh; list of 60 dancers, singers, harpists, box players and pianists; poster of cancelled concert ‘An Evening with Sean Ó Riada, Easter Friday 16th April.’ Letter from Séamus Gallagher to Len Clifford cancelling ‘proposed O Riada concert which we had hoped to sponsor.’ The reason he gives for this cancellation is that ’it appears our organisation is grossly inefficient.’ Further correspondence between Clifford and musicians and singers informing them of the cancellation and notifying them of a new concert ‘at the same fee’ on the 5 March 1971 in UCD. Further letters detailing travel and rehearsal arrangements for the rescheduled concert.
Original typed letter/contract from Ben Travers, Copyright Department, British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, London, to Len Clifford, Seapoint, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Commissioning Seán Ó Riada ‘to write the incidental music for our Television Drama Play “The Playboy of the Western World.”’ A fee of ‘£8.00 per minute’ is suggested but has been amended to £8.50 and initialled. The fee is to ‘cover composition, scoring and the right to record the music as desired for world television and world showing of non-paying audiences.’ The contract is signed by both Ben Travers & Len Clifford.
Letters from various friends and relatives to Seán Reid who at this time is the ‘Assistant Road Surveyor’ in Ennis, Co. Clare. Letters are mostly addressed to John Reid, ‘Carmel’, Victoria Rd, Ennis, Co Clare. Letters are from, among others, ‘Jas. Leahy’, Mícheál de Búrca, E. J. McGrath, D[enis] Dunphy, ‘F? Dowling’, Tommie [Potts] (Potts, Tommie, 1912–1988), 6 Watkins Buildings, Ardee St, Dublin, John Potts, Mick Malone and Liam Ó Ceallaigh. Many letters contain references to musicians, feiseanna, céilí, music lessons, including a letter from ‘D Dunphy’ (6 May 1937) which encloses a programme for ‘Feis Thír-Eóghain 22nd-23rd May, 1937 in St Patrick’s Hall and Foresters’ Hall, Omagh.’ A letter from ‘Tommie [Potts]’ (22 July 1937) makes reference to a recent feis win by Reid ‘all of us were delighted to hear of your fiddling success’ and in a letter from John Potts (11 August 1937) he lists a number of his current uilleann pipe students including ‘Fr Jones’, ‘Bro Gildas’, ‘Mr Andrews’ and Mr Kearney’.
Draft & original correspondence between Len Clifford and two employees of RTÉ, Janet Wynne and Tom McGrath; and two copies of the ‘Report of Chairman of Jury Selecting Songs for the Contest.’ The correspondence relates to the National Song Contest, 1972 and Len Clifford’s role as chairman of the jury. Clifford is paid £40 for the job which ‘usually takes between three and four days.’ He writes to Tom McGrath on the 8 January 1972 enclosing the report of ‘the Panel.’ He says that the task was a ‘gruelling’ one but he very much enjoyed working with the other members of the jury, Frank Dermody, Louis Stewart, Tony Wilson and musician, Noel Kelehan. The report details the ‘Terms of reference’, ‘Procedure Adopted’ and ‘Result.’ The following English and Irish songs were chosen by the jury: ‘Certain Sunday’, Don’t need your Sympathy’, ‘It would take a Miracle’, ‘Tar Liom’, ‘Posadh nó Buaileadh Nos’ and ‘Óró Áine.’ The jury was unanimous in all its choices.
This series relates to the uilleann piping organisation Na Píobairí Uilleann which was founded in 1968. The majority of the papers relate to the early years of the organisation from 1968–1978, when Breandán Breathnach was chairman. A large amount of the correspondence is addressed to the chairman’s home address, 47 Frascati Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. There are also letters addressed to other committee members including secretary, Brian Vallely and Terry Moylan. The objectives of the organisation are to ‘promote and encourage the playing of the uilleann pipes; to collect and preserve music for the instrument in any manner considered feasible by the council; to assemble materials and carry out research on the history of the pipes and pipers; to issue from time to time publications about piping and the affairs of the association; to spread the knowledge of reed making and to promote the making of pipes.’ (BBR-18712/5/2). The series is divided into three subseries, the first contains some financial and administrative documents relating to various NPU premises and to specialist equipment acquired by the organisation. The objectives of the organisation are reflected in the second subseries ‘Activities’ with documents relating to the society’s bulletin An Píobaire; the music competition, Feis Ceoil; letters relating to the organisation of some of the early Tionól [Pipers’ Gatherings]; the piping exhibition Pipes and Piping, which was exhibited around the country in various locations; and documents relating to proposals sent to Gaeltarra Éireann, Shannon Development and The Carnegie United Kingdom Trust for grant aid to assist in setting up pipe makers in business. The final subseries, ‘General Correspondence 1969-1982’, contains letters from many uilleann pipers active in the society in the 1970s.
Financial documents and receipts relating to the activities of Na Píobairí Uilleann. Included are an entry sheet for ‘Cumann na bPiobairí Uilleann / Uilleann Pipers' Club Members Private Sweep on The Grand National, Run at Aintree..., 1963; a hardback copy listing names & subscription payments to Na Píobairí Uilleann (1968-1972), the first entry is as follows ‘26th October 1968. Convention held at Bru na Gael, North Great George’s Street. Subscriptions were collected by me and the names of subscribers noted with addresses.’ The copy also includes ‘income’ and ‘expenditure’ accounts for these years. Also included are receipts for among other things, printing of the society’s newsletter An Píobaire, the printing of photographs from a pipers’ gathering in 1973, receipts for materials relating to reed making e.g. ‘12 balls of hemp, £1.07’ as well as receipts for the purchase of publications.
This subseries relates to the various activities carried out by Na Píobairí Uilleann to promote their organisation, as well as, the art of uilleann piping and pipe making. These activities include the publication of it newsletter An Píobaire, exhibitions on uilleann piping, the promotion of the uilleann pipes through participation in music competitions like Feis Ceoil and the establishment of pipe making companies throughout Ireland.
Included in an envelope marked, ‘Féis Cheoil piping comptn’, are draft & original correspondence between Turlough [Terry] Moylan, honorary secretary of Na Píobairí Uilleann and two members of the Feis Ceoil committee, Mrs M. E. Atock and Miss J. Hunter; a letter from Terry Moylan to Breandán Breathnach; and a copy of the Feis Ceoil ‘Syllabus of prize competitions … 1971.’ The correspondence relates to a request by Na Píobairí Uilleann for the ‘re-inclusion of piping competitions in the 1972 Feis Ceoil’ (22 Jul 1971). Na Píobairí Uilleann’s suggestion ‘received very favourable consideration’ at the Feis Ceoil committee meeting (17 Sep 1971) the issue of who would provide and finance prizes and adjudicators is raised; Na Píobairí Uilleann offer to provide plaques and three adjudicators ‘at no expense’ (30 Sep 1971); there is a disagreement about the number of adjudicators needed, the Feis Ceoil committee comment that ‘in all Feis Ceoil competitions only one adjudicator is employed … this condition must be complied with in the piping classes’ (12 Nov 1971); Na Píobairí Uilleann is ‘taken aback at the unyielding attitude’ displayed by the Feis Ceoil committee, Na Píobairí Uilleann feel they are the ‘best judges’ as to how a piping competition should be conducted and accordingly ‘they cannot accede’ to the Feis Ceoil request (18 Jan 1972).
