Murt Curran
Murt
Curran of Leighlin and now living in Carlow, is a champion Irish
dancer, musician, teacher, adjudicator and broadcaster. He was born
in New Ross in 1902. While working with farmers in Wexford he joined
Fianna Eireann and the Sinn Fein Club and ended up as Intelligence
Officer for the IRA in South Kilkenny.
Internee at the Curragh
Interned on the Curragh during the Civil War Murt
went on hunger strike, despite medical advice that it would kill
him. After ten days the Free State authorities discharged him.
In 1926 he came to Leighlinbridge where he married
and farmed a small holding. From then on Murt was in great demand
all over Ireland and in England to teach Irish dancing.
Bring down the lamp
He spent many periods in England teaching and giving
exhibitions. He is holder of the Championship of England gold medal
and many more top awards.
Murt was the first to dance on the radio (sound
only) from Radio Eireann. He has made many television appearances in
programmes such as Bring Down the Lamp and Deanaroh Cecil.
During his long career he had many jobs as a traffic
warden, a security man, caretaker, postman and -wait for it — male
model with the Violet Collins Agency in Dublin.
Source: The Nationalist Centenary
Supplement 1883-1983
