The Arts Council has expressed its regret at the passing yesterday of film-maker, broadcaster and singer David Hammond.
David Hammond was well respected in the traditional arts community throughout Ireland. He collaborated with renowned folklorists and musicians such as Alan Lomax and Pete Seeger. He was legendary for his knowledge of traditional ballads from his native Belfast and published, to great acclaim, a collection of Belfast children’s street songs in the 1970s.
Speaking today, Paul Flynn, Head of Traditional arts in the Arts Council said, "Davey toured the north in the 1960s singing folksongs and sharing stories and poetry with a trio called Room to Rhyme which also included such literary greats as Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley. As well as presenting his own programmes on RTÉ Radio he was also a regular contributor to many which were presented by Ciarán MacMathuna such as Mo Cheol Thú and Let the Toast Pass."
We offer our sympathies to his wife and family.