The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) is committed to providing free, universal access to the rich cultural tradition of Irish music, song and dance. If you’re able, we’d love for you to consider a donation. Any level of support will help us preserve and grow this tradition for future generations.
ITMA was delighted to welcome Patrick and Maurice O’Connell to the Archive recently. Patrick travelled from London to donate his father’s collection of Irish dance related materials to the Irish Traditional Music Archive at Dr John Cullinane’s suggestion.
Maurice O’Connell (1921–2001), born in Cork, was taught Irish dancing along with his sister Maureen by their uncle Tommie Cullen (1909–1976). The material donated to ITMA includes a scrapbook compiled by Tommie Cullen in Cork as well as Irish dancing medals won by him. The O’Connell family moved to London in the late 1920s where Maurice started his own Irish dance school at the age of 17. Much of the material in this collection relates to the Irish dancing scene in London in the first half of the 20th century and includes photographs, concert and festival programmes, posters, newspaper clippings and artefacts.
Nell, Tommie Cullen and Maurice O'Connell, 1934
ITMA would like to thank the O’Connell family and Dr John Cullinane for this wonderful donation of Irish Dance materials to ITMA.
