May, 1926, Thursday 6

To-day those who are going for Matric. were separated from History class, I and about 10 others being left with class. First sign of the changing of old order. – With reference to ‘ausgelernter Feldscher’ [trained army barber-surgeon] in Eichendorff [Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts] Scannie told me that before it was the custom to let blood for any disease, and that it was the barbers who performed it, up to recently leeches were also applied to suck the blood. – Went to Doctor, and he told me I must make an appointment with Dr. Cussen for Saturday to be examined. Saw there in the ‘Sphere’ photo of the new Shah of Persia, Reza Khan, and his son. To-night was Mr. and Mrs. Neeson’s recital. I turned over, opened piano several times, etc. Mrs. Neeson56 was really wonderful. Her Liadoff, Chopin and César Franck were glorious, and Mr. Neeson sang some Rob. Franz songs which are so beautiful and always make me think of old times. That Chopin Polonaise was ringing in my ears all the night in its national vigour. Frl. Engelmann and I went back after concert to Pappie, who is now sitting up and much better. Went to bed at 12.

  1. Seán Neeson (1891-1964) born in Belfast Falls Rd, son of a shipyard worker who went off to the goldmines of South Africa and never returned; his mother´s people were traditional musicians. He trained to be a teacher in Dublin, was then one of the founders of Sinn Féin in Belfast and acted as secretary to the blind folk music collector and composer Carl Hardebeck. He was interned after the 1916 rising. After his release he taught in Cork, singing in the Cork cathedral choir, in May 1922 joining the staff of the School of Music as teacher of singing. He was involved in the war of independence, took the republican side and was interned during the civil war. In 1925 he married Geraldine O’Sullivan. He was to be director of the short-lived Cork Radio Station 1927-1930 and in 1933 to become lecturer in Irish traditional music at University College Cork. [↩]