Pat Ahern (director) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pat Ahern
Pat Ahern in 1976
Background information
Birth name	Pat Ahern
Origin	Moyvane, County Kerry, Ireland
Occupation(s)	Artistic Director

Pat Ahern is an Irish priest, a talented traditional musician, and a composer. He is best known for starting and leading Siamsa Tíre, which is Ireland's National Folk Theatre. From 1974 to 1997, he was the artistic director and producer, helping the theatre perform all over Ireland and in many countries around the world.

Pat Ahern's Early Life and Education

Pat Ahern was born in 1932 in Moyvane, a place in north County Kerry, Ireland. His family loved Irish traditional music. His mother played the fiddle, and his brother Seán was a singer and played the uilleann pipes. Pat learned to play the fiddle from his mother. He also learned Irish step-dancing from a famous dance teacher named Jeremiah Molyneaux.

Pat went to primary school in Moyvane from 1938 to 1944. Then, he studied at St Michael's College in Listowel. From 1950 to 1957, he studied to become a Catholic priest at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. While there, he also learned to play the piano and organ. He became a priest in 1957 and started working in Tralee, County Kerry. He was in charge of music for church services and even started a choir.

Pat Ahern's Musical Studies

In 1959, Pat Ahern went to University College, Cork to study music. He graduated in 1962. Later, in 1967, he studied how to produce radio and television shows in Dublin. He even produced a weekly religious radio show called 'Network'. In 1973, he returned to Kerry. His bishop allowed him to focus completely on his work with folk theatre.

Pat Ahern in 2015

Creating Folk Theatre: Siamsa Tíre

In 1965, Pat Ahern started a group called Siamsóirí na Ríochta, which means "Entertainers of the Kingdom." This group performed traditional Irish music, singing, and dancing. They even made four TV shows for RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster.

The First Siamsa Shows

In 1968, the group put on their first folk theatre show in Tralee. They called it SIAMSA, which means "a coming together for merrymaking" in Irish. The show was very popular. It was performed in famous theatres like the Dublin Peacock Theatre and the Abbey Theatre. In 1971, they even had a special Christmas show on RTÉ television.

Siamsa Tíre: The National Folk Theatre

In 1972, Pat Ahern created a ten-year plan for the folk theatre in Tralee. It became known as Siamsa Tíre, which means "Entertainment of the Land." In 1974, Siamsa Tíre officially became a company. It received funding from the Irish Tourist Board and the government department for Irish-speaking areas. Pat Ahern was the artistic director until he retired in 1997.

Pat Ahern wanted Siamsa Tíre to help people connect with Ireland's rich cultural heritage. He believed that the Irish language held many old stories, poems, and songs that needed to be shared again. He wanted to bring these "lost treasures" to new audiences in exciting ways.

Siamsa Tíre also set up special training centers in rural areas. These centers, called Tithe Siamsa (Siamsa houses), were places where people could learn music, dance, and storytelling. The first one opened in Finuge in 1974, focusing on north Kerry dance. Another opened in Carraig in 1975, focusing on the Irish language.

In 1978, Siamsa Tíre moved into a renovated theatre in Tralee. Pat Ahern also started working with artists from other countries, like Argentinian and Bulgarian dancers. By 1985, the company started hiring professional performers. In 1991, Siamsa Tíre moved into a brand-new theatre in Tralee. They opened with a new show called Ding Dong Dedero – Forging the Dance. This show told the story of Jeremiah Molyneaux, the dance master who taught Pat Ahern.

Frank Delaney, a writer, described Siamsa Tíre in 1976. He said that when you watch the show, you can feel an echo of the past. He felt that Siamsa Tíre helped people remember their roots and identity in a fast-changing world. He also said it was a very enjoyable evening of theatre.

Pat Ahern's Pageants and Productions

Pat Ahern also created and produced many large-scale shows called pageants. These shows often involved many people from the community.

• In 1958, he created Massabielle, a show about the story of Lourdes.
• In 1959, he produced Bethlehem, which told the story of Christmas.
• In 1963, he created Golgotha, a show about the Passion of Christ, with a cast of 120 people.
• He continued to create pageants over the years, including Dance of Life in 1999, which celebrated the new millennium with a cast of 200 and a choir of 800.
• In 2002, he created Críost Liom, a show about the life of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.
• In 2005, he presented Song of the Living Stones, a show about the history of Christianity in Kerry.

Siamsa Tíre: Performances and Tours

Siamsa Tíre performed all over Ireland and toured many countries around the world.

Radio and TV Appearances

Siamsa Tíre appeared on many radio and TV shows over the years.

• In 1965, they had four 30-minute shows on RTÉ TV.
• They performed on RTÉ TV's Christmas show in 1966.
• They were featured in a BBC documentary in 1978.
• In 1989, they were part of a special St. Patrick's Night show called Ireland in Concert, a co-production by BBC and RTÉ.
• They continued to appear on RTÉ TV for Christmas shows and other specials throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Performances Across Ireland

Siamsa Tíre performed in many cities and towns across Ireland.

• They performed at the Cork International Choral Festival many times.
• They played at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1977.
• In 1979, the Siamsa Tíre choir sang at a Mass for Pope John Paul II when he visited Limerick.
• They performed in Northern Ireland in 1980, visiting Belfast, Newry, and Derry.
• In 1986, they performed for the Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, during his visit to Ireland.

International Tours

Siamsa Tíre also traveled the world, sharing Irish culture with international audiences.

• Their first international tour was to Germany in 1971.
• In 1973, they performed in London.
• They had a big American Tour in 1976, performing in cities like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
• They toured France in 1979 and Canada in 1980.
• In 1981, they performed for Pope John Paul II in Rome.
• They had another American Tour in 1982, visiting many states.
• In 1986, they performed for Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
• They went on an Australian Bicentennial Tour in 1986, visiting many cities.
• They also toured Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and Spain (including the Seville Expo in 1992).

Awards and Recognitions

Pat Ahern and Siamsa Tíre have received many awards and special invitations.

• In 1970, Pat Ahern received an award for directing the first Fleadh Nua festival.
• In 1975, Siamsa Tíre won a European prize for Folk Art.
• In 1980, they received an award for their contribution to tourism.
• In 1987, Siamsa Tíre performed at the Australian bicentennial celebrations at the special invitation of Prime Minister Bob Hawke.
• In 1992, Siamsa Tíre performed for the King and Queen of Sweden.
• In 1993, Pat Ahern was named "Kerry Person of the Year."
• In 1996, President Mary Robinson visited Siamsa Tíre in Tralee.
• In 2009, Pat Ahern was given an Honorary Fellowship by the Institute of Technology, Tralee.
• In 2017, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from University College Cork.
• In 2019, he was nominated Ard Ollamh (a high honor) by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
• In 2022, he received the Kerry Association in Dublin Arts Award.

Pat Ahern's Musical Compositions

Pat Ahern has composed many musical and theatrical works.

• Massabielle (1958) – a play about the story of Lourdes.
• Bethlehem (1959) – the Christmas Story on stage.
• Golgotha (1963) – a play about the Passion of Christ.
• Siamsa – Fadó, Fadó (1968) – "Long, long ago."
• Oisín i dTír na nÓg (1980) – an Irish legend about Oisín in the Land of Youth.
• Aifreann Phádraig Naofa (1984) – the Mass of St. Patrick, first performed by the Siamsa Tíre singers.
• Sean agus Nua (1988) – "Old and New," a collection of folk tales for the stage.
• Ding Dong Dedero: Forging the Dance (1991) – the story of dance-master Jeremiah Molyneaux.
• Dance of Life (2000) – the story of salvation on stage.
• Críost Liom (2002) – a tribute to Blessed Edmond Rice.
• Song of the Living Stones (2005) – a history of Christianity in Kerry.
• Dánta na nDaoine (2012) – "Songs of the People."
• Aifreann na nDaoine (2014) – "The People's Mass."

Pat Ahern's Published Writings

Pat Ahern has also written articles and a book.

• He wrote about the "Scoraíocht Movement" in 1969.
• He contributed to books about other musicians and the Cork International Choral Festival.
• In 2022, he published his book, Forging the Dance: Eachtraí mo Shaoil, which explores the idea of folk theatre and how Siamsa Tíre began.

Images for kids

• 

  Pat Ahern in 1976

• 

  Pat Ahern in 2015