Brian O'Rourke (composer)
{{Short description|Irish singer and lecturer (1949–2022)}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Brian O'Rourke
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| birth_date = 1949
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| nationality = Irish
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| occupation = Composer
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Brían O'Rourke (1949-2022) was a composer and singer of Irish folk songs. He lectured in Irish Studies at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and authored several books on Irish folk songs.
Life
O'Rourke was born in Ratheniska, County Laois.{{Cite web |last=McGarry |first=Fiona |date=2022-04-15 |title=Tributes paid to late Dr Brían O’Rourke at funeral |url=https://clarechampion.ie/tributes-paid-to-late-dr-brian-orourke-at-funeral/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=The Clare Champion |language=en-GB}} He was married and had three children, with whom he lived in Magherabaun, Feakle. O'Rourke taught Irish Studies or Irish Heritage at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
Works
O'Rourke published two volumes with collections of Irish songs.{{Cite web |title=Composer Of Irish Folk Songs- Brian O'Rourke |url=https://www.enjoy-irish-culture.com/Irish-folk-songs.html |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Enjoy Irish Culture}} These songs were frequently performed by Sean nós singers.
- Blas Meala (english: A sip from the honeypot){{Cite book |last=O'Rourke |first=Brian |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/13396163 |title=Blas meala : a sip from the honey-pot : a selection of Gaelic folksongs with prose translations and verse equivalents |date=1985 |publisher=Irish Academic Press |isbn=0-7165-2357-4 |location=Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland |oclc=13396163}}
- An Dhub ina Bhan (english: Pale rainbow){{Cite book |last=O'Rourke |first=Brian |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22422317 |title=Pale rainbow : a selection of Gaelic folksongs with prose translations and verse equivalents = An Dubh ina bhán |date=1990 |publisher=Irish Academic Press |isbn=0-7165-2425-2 |location=Blackrock, Co. Dublin |oclc=22422317}}
As a composer, he was best known for "The Bhodrán song" (when I grow up), included on the album The Very Best of Irish Ballads (ARC Music 2015) and Chantal du Champignon.{{Cite web |last=Spiegel |first=Max |title=Lyr Add: Chantal du Champignon (Brian O'Rourke) |url=https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=43716 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=mudcat.org}}
In the book chapter "County Mayo in Gaelic Folk Song", O´Rourke identifies a series of characters in the history of County Mayo that are remembered through folk songs.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9687670 |title=Mayo : aspects of its heritage |date=1982 |publisher=Archaeological, Historical, and Folklore Society, Regional Technical College |others=Bernard O'Hara |isbn=0-9508233-0-9 |location=Galway, Ireland |oclc=9687670}}
- Seán Mac Aoidh, murder suspect and ascribed author of the poem Sail Og Rua
- Dónal Ó Maoláine, rapparee described in an adventure song
- Lacky Ó Máille, the troubled friar and author of two songs
- Tomás Bán Mac Aodhagáin, a person sentenced to be hanged who is described in the song that bears his name
- Dónal Meirgeach Mac Conmara, the freckled adscribed author of the song An Ghaoth Andeas
References
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Category:20th-century Irish composers