World renowned musician Iarla Ó Lionáird conferred with a PhD from University of Limerick

Friday, 30 August 2024

Critically acclaimed Irish songwriter and performer Iarla Ó Lionáird was conferred with a PhD in Arts Practice from University of Limerick this week.

The twice Grammy nominated artist said his late father knowing he completed his PhD was one of his proudest moments.

"When I handed in my doctoral study in January, my dad rang me. He actually passed away that same month, but he rang and said 'A Dhoctúir' (Doctor). I said, 'you're jumping the gun', 'no', he said, 'the work is done'.

"I feel proud that he knew that I was finished and that he luxuriated in that because he was an educator himself. He was a principal of a secondary school, a very successful principal and beloved by his community.

"So that was one of the greatest feelings I have to say, that Dad knew I'd finished it, but also that I had finished it myself."

Iarla's educational journey in UL began back in 2003 when he completed a Masters in Ethnomusicology during a break from touring with his former band Afro-Celt Sound System.

"My relationship with UL started on a personal level through Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, the founder of UL's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, because we had been performing concerts together, him on piano and me singing, something we continued to do right up until his death.

"So that brought me in, his vision that people of my background and from within the oral musical tradition could have access to the Academy, could be given parity of esteem - intellectually, aesthetically, artistically, and could be acknowledged as artists and masters in their own right.

"Compared to other educational entities, I think the Irish World Academy has a definitive philosophical stance rooted in a broader equality. And I found that very attractive, I must say.

"During that time when I was doing the masters, it was a very steep learning curve and there were times I might have been despairing about my capability and I would go into Mícheál's office and no matter how doleful I might have been going in, I always left his office feeling a foot taller. He really made me feel like I could do it and empowered me, and really it supercharged my efforts in that period."

Dr Ó Lionáird has carved a long and unique career in music both internationally and in Ireland but credits his introduction to new classical music as one of the most pivotal moments for him, through working on Grá Agus Bás with Dublin composer Donnacha Dennehy.

"That was a real game changer for me that led to me doing work in opera and many, many other projects in the new classical field, which I always find very interesting.

"I'm not classically trained, though do a lot of work in that realm, but it has been a huge challenge for me. I probably wouldn't have been quite so emboldened to do any of it had it not been for my encounter with UL and the room it gave me to be curious about my own practice."

The newly minted Dr Ó Lionáird joined more than 3,600 students being conferred this week as part of the University's Autumn Conferring Ceremonies.

"I didn't have a particularly happy undergraduate experience in Carysfort College but my postgraduate study in UL really re-enamored me, it made me fall in love with the process again, it made me feel that I could be part of it, and it was a very, very big educational step for my mind.

"I used to drive home every day with my head on fire, whatever work I did as an undergraduate in college didn't seem to fire me up at all compared to what happened to me at UL when I was doing my masters.

"I was very fortunate with my supervisor Dr Aileen Dillane, who is probably one of the most gifted intellectuals I've ever met, and a wonderful teacher, so that helped enormously."