Ó Sé funeral told of Cork singer and teacher's 'God-given talent'

The late Seán Ó Sé was blessed, his funeral Mass heard on Friday afternoon, “with a God-given talent, but by God he utilised it to the fullest, right up to very recent times”.

Friday would have been the renowned singer and educator’s 90th birthday, and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Ballinlough was packed with family, friends and admirers, only five months after the funeral of his beloved wife Eileen.

His son, Con Ó Sé, told the congregation that the three cornerstones of his father’s long life had been his career in education, his singing and his family.

Although Seán Ó Sé had gained national and international renown as a gifted singer, his role as a teacher was his priority, his son said.

He taught in Wicklow, Bandon, and Gurranabraher, and the final 13 years of his career in education were as principal of St Mary’s on the Hill School in Knocknaheeny.

“We saw first-hand his relentless drive and commitment to ensure that every single child in that school got the best possible chance in life,” Con Ó Sé said.

A gifted tenor, he first came to prominence as a singer in the 1960s with Seán Ó Riada’s group Ceoltóirí Chualann, touring internationally with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and his 1962 version of An Poc ar Buile made him famous.

“He got so much from the simple act of singing for people,” Con Ó Sé said.

“It made no difference to him whether it was singing to a packed square in Puck Fair in Killorgin or in the National Concert Hall. It is hard to think of two more different settings, but he did knock the same buzz out of one as the other.”

He added that his father loved his family ‘above all else". 

“That is why we will miss him so much. He and Mam gave us the ultimate gift as children. They gave us happy childhoods wrapped in the warmth of a loving home. You can do no more for your children.” 

Mr Ó Sé ended his eulogy by paying tribute to his father “in the same way he did to Mam just five months ago”, singing Réir Dé go Ndeanam from the Ó Riada Mass.

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Canon Michael Keohane, and concelebrated by the bishop of Cork and Ross Bishop Fintan Gavin, Fr Colum Ó Se, Bishop Emeritus John Buckley, Fr Kerry Murphy O’Connor, Fr Pat Crean-Lynch, Fr Noel Murphy, Fr Dave McAuliffe, and Canon Teddy O’Sullivan.

AIDE DE CAMP

President Catherine Connolly was represented at the funeral by her aide de camp Commandant Deirdre Newell, and the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, was represented by Captain Brian O’Shea. Mr Martin’s wife, Mary, attended the funeral.

The Lord Mayor, councillor Fergal Dennehy attended, as did former lord mayor councillor Tony Fitzgerald, former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív, Fine Gael senator Garret Kelleher, and balladeer John Spillane.

Seán Ó Se’s great friend Peadar Ó Riada was there to lead Cór Chúil Aodha. They had sung together in 2023 at Shane MacGowan’s funeral. There too was Peadar’s sister, Seán’s goddaughter, Liadh Ní Riada, former Sinn Féin MEP and presidential candidate.

As the coffin was brought from the church to the sound of Cór Chúil Aodha performing A Rí an Domhnaighfrom the Ó Riada Mass, through a guard of honour of young pupils from St Mary’s on the Hill, the most vivid rainbow shone through the clouds over Ballinlough.

Seán Ó Se was laid to rest in the soil of his native Bantry, at the Abbey Cemetery which overlooks Bantry Bay, reunited with his wife of 58 years, Eileen, who went before him last August.