Declan Townsend (b. 1938), former lecturer, School of Music (part 1)

Declan Townsend recalls his early days growing up in Tralee where his family was deeply rooted in the tradition of music. He describes his family’s move to Cork, his education in the fifties at school on Sullivan’s Quay, and his entrance to the School of Music. His parents became part of the Cork Symphony Orchestra, under the conductorship of Aloys Fleischmann and Declan also joined the orchestra at the young age of 14. He talks about his studentship in music in UCC, where he completed his B.Mus. degree and where he was taught by Aloys Fleischmann and Sean Neeson. He began to teach violin for the County Music Scheme, and explains how the Scheme came into being. He talks at great length about his own contribution in writing music for the orchestras at Cork School of Music and Cork Youth Orchestra, one of which was toured by the National Youth Orchestra under 18s, and speaks about the marvellous driving force Bridget Doolan brought to the School of Music, and her recruitment of some excellent staff during her time.