Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh
Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh (1946–2025) was an Irish singer, guitarist, composer, record producer, painter, writer and publisher. He was born in Belfast, and his family came from the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal. They moved back there in 1947. His father told stories and his mother sang, so storytelling and music were a big part of his life.
He studied painting at the Ulster College of Art (1966–1970) and later studied education at Cardiff University (1970–1971). He taught art in several places and moved to County Donegal in 1977. He learned the Irish language in summer courses at Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste, and taught singing there. In 1978 he hoped to do a Master’s in music at University College Cork but could not afford the fee.
Music was mostly self-taught on guitar. He founded the band Dúlamán (active 1996–1998) and also performed solo as Seoirse, writing original Irish-style music and arranging traditional, popular, and some classical pieces. His recordings began to appear in 1988. His first studio album, Slán agus Beannacht (1988), received some airplay. Bláth Buí (1992) was praised for capturing the heart of traditional songs. Oíche go Maidin (1993) is seen as his breakthrough, with critics noting a confident, imaginative reworking of songs and even the touch of classical composers like Schubert, Mozart and Vivaldi. Tabhair ar ais an Oíche Aréir (2000) was praised for varied and innovative arrangements.
Dúlamán developed a distinctive style, blending old and new Irish songs with vocal harmonies and a mix of instruments. The band’s last public concert was on 8 December 1998 at University College Dublin.
As a painter, Ó Dochartaigh focused on the Donegal landscape from 1993 onward, often featuring local flora. His first major solo show, "Oíche go Maidin" (Dusk till Dawn), took place in Dublin in 1993. He later exhibited in Vienna and created an online project related to Franz Schubert. His work was discussed alongside that of other Irish artists, and he was featured in publications and exhibitions, including the 2008 Maynooth Year Book and a Fort Dunree exhibition inspired by Leonard Cohen.
He also wrote about clan and local history and created a listener’s guide to Irish classical music, compiling information on recordings. His books include The Seven Races of Inishowen O'Doherty (2008), The Great Marriage Book of Inishowen (2021, 2022), Gleann Daoile (2023) and Sunlight and Shadow: A Listener's Guide to Irish Classical Music (2016). All of these were published under his own imprint, Errigal Records.
Ó Dochartaigh died on 21 November 2025 after several years of illness, at the age of 79.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:08 (CET).