New Seán Ó Riada documentary from TG4 to air on Stephen's Day

A brand new documentary celebrating the life and work of one of Ireland's most acclaimed composers of the last century, Seán Ó Riada, will air on TG4 this holiday season.

Playing on the night of St. Stephen's Day, Seán Ó Riada - Mo Sheanathairfollows the artist's granddaughter; musician and broadcaster Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, as she "resolves to find out more about this divisive and iconic figure."

Described as a "moving tribute to this giant of Irish cultural life", the film will also feature performances from the likes of Barry Douglas, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Nell Ní Chróinín, Steve Cooney, Cormac McCarthy, Cór Chúil Aodha as well as Doireann Ní Ghlacáin herself.

It traces Ó Riada's life from his college days in UCC to the jazz bars of Paris and back to the Irish Gaeltacht of West Cork and Kerry.

A plot description from the press release notes that the feature will also present an "alternative view of Ó Riada's legacy, in particular from the perspective of his wife Ruth Ní Riada who also died tragically, just 6 years after Ó Riada."

Táin Media produced the new documentary alongside multi-Oscar nominated Executive Producer Jim Sheridan for TG4, with support from Northern Ireland Screen's Irish Language Broadcast Fund and University College Cork.

Seán Ó Riada - Mo Sheanathairairs the night of December 26 on TG4.