LIAM O CUINNEAGAIN, BORN 1953, GLENCOLMCILLE

Liam O Cuinneagain is native of Glencolmcille where his family is deeply rooted. He was recorded at Oideas Gael which he was instrumental in setting up and which celebrated its 25th anniversary recently. Liam describes the structure of the community — its strength due to its music traditions, the GAA and religious traditions along with the strategic placing of dwellings. He discusses his education in Letterkenny, his training as a primary teacher at St. Patrick’s College in Dublin and his first post in inner-city Dublin, from 1971 to 1982. He discusses his partnership with Joseph Watson from Belfast in establishing Oideas Gael in Glencolmcille in the mid-1980s and the great partnership both men enjoy in running the college.