Riverside memorial to piper, composer and singer Tomás Ó Canainn

Tributes were paid to piper, composer and teacher Tomás Ó Canainn yesterday when his friends unveiled a granite bench in memory of him next to the Glasaboy river in Co Cork.

A native of Co Derry, Ó Canainn moved to Cork and became dean of engineering at UCC but remained better known as a champion of traditional Irish music. Friends joined with his widow, Helen, and daughters Niamh, Nuala and Úna for the ceremony in Glanmire where he lived until his death in 2013.

Prof John A Murphy paid tribute to his friend, who took over music lectures from Seán Ó Riada at UCC, and unveiled the monument which features etchings by Gerald McCarthy.