Muiris O'Rócháin was a teacher

Teacher

A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...

, director of the Willie Clancy Summer School

Willie Clancy Summer School

The Willie Clancy Summer School is Ireland's largest traditional music summer school held annually since 1973 in memory of the uilleann piper Willie Clancy. During the week, nearly a thousand students from every part of the world attend daily classes taught by experts in Irish music and dance...

, president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge

Oireachtas na Gaeilge

Oireachtas na Gaeilge is an annually held arts festival of Irish culture, which has run since the 1890s. Based on the Welsh Eisteddfod, Oireachtas na Gaeilge runs for one week, featuring performances, demonstrations and competitions...

 and folk collector.

O'Rócháin was a qualified teacher who taught mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...

 and Irish

Irish language

Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...

 in Cahersiveen, Waterville

Waterville, County Kerry

Waterville, historically known as Carrean , is a village in County Kerry, Ireland, on the Iveragh peninsula. The town is sited on a narrow isthmus, with Lough Currane on the east side of the town, and Ballinskelligs Bay on the west, and the Currane River connecting the two.The town's name in Irish...

, Dublin and Spanish Point

Spanish Point

Spanish Point is a village in the parish of Miltown Malbay in County Clare, Ireland, situated on the west coast of Ireland. The town is home to many holiday homes, and during the winter has a significantly smaller population. It is also one of the better surf breaks in County Clare...

. While working in Dublin he met his wife Una Guerin and followed her to her native place Milltown Malbay.

Muiris Ó Rócháin was one of the founders of the Willie Clancy Summer School. He was its director for many years.

Over the years, he spent much time to folklore, community life and especially to Irish culture. Many organisations availed of his time and knowledge. Amongst others: Dal gCais

Dál gCais

The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...

, journal on Irish culture, Oidhreacht an Chláir Teo (Clare Institure for Traditional Studies). and The Clare Festival of Traditional Singing

The Clare Festival of Traditional Singing

The Clare Festival of Traditional Singing is a yearly festival held in Milltown Malbay and Spanish Point in the month November. The aim of the festival is to promote unaccompanied traditional singing.-History:...

.

In 2001 O'Rócháin was appointed as president of the Oireachtas na Gaeilge

Oireachtas na Gaeilge

Oireachtas na Gaeilge is an annually held arts festival of Irish culture, which has run since the 1890s. Based on the Welsh Eisteddfod, Oireachtas na Gaeilge runs for one week, featuring performances, demonstrations and competitions...

, an annually held arts festival of Irish culture.

Awards

• 2010: TG4 Gradam na gCeoltóirí award (musician's award); for his contributions to Irish traditional music