NELL KANE, BORN 1918, FORMER TEACHER, COLLEGE OF MUSIC, CHATHAM ROW (Part 2)

Nell Kane was recorded in Wicklow town, where she lives. She discusses her early life, growing up in Dublin, and attending, at the age of ten, the Municipal School of Music. She gained her Diploma in Music from Trinity College of Music London and she began her part-time teaching career at Mount Mellerary. She later taught at Muckross Park, Sion Hill, Cross and Passion Kilcullen and Christian Brothers in Crumlin. Her instruments were the cello, the viola and the violin. She formed an orchestra which went on to win a cup at Feis Ceoil. She taught in the College of Music on a part-time basis until her 79th year. She discusses the appreciation of music which has always existed in Dublin, though in the past, more appreciation but less opportunity existed. She also recalls her membership of the Legion of Mary during her youth in Dublin. In the second section of the recording Nell Kane explains that she was a founder member of the Students’ Union. She also discusses the Irish language, and Irish music, and discusses her views during her earlier days. In the 1950s she was appointed the first teacher in a new music initiative to teach music in schools in rural Co Wicklow. She discusses this in great and interesting detail. She also recalls her own orchestra and playing for a broadcast from the Radio Éireann studios in Henry Street. The strike which lasted for 13 weeks in 1976 in the College of Music is also recalled in this recording.