The National Concert Hall, Dublin was full to capacity on Sunday, 25th April last when hundreds of teenagers, their supporters and families, gathered for a night that will long be remembered by all for it’s celebration of youth and music – the Siansa Gael Linn Grand Finale 2010!

There will be great rejoicing in Newry, Co. Down, for some time with the group ‘Ioscaid’ from the town having won the All-Ireland Final of Siansa Gael Linn in the National Concert Hall on Sunday 25th April last! Organised by Gael Linn and supported by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Irish Music Magazine, Siansa is now one of the country’s most prestigious competitions for young traditional Irish music and singing groups.

Eight groups from all over the country ( ‘Ioscaid’, Newry, Co. Down; ‘Dílse’, Tramore, Co. Waterford; ‘Clapsholas’ Monkstown and ‘Cibé’, Raheny from Dublin; ‘Smidiríní’, Durrow, Co. Offaly; and Co. Galway groups ‘Trí Lasadh’, Carna; ‘Fuinneamh’, Tuam and ‘Anáil’, Athenry) held the capacity audience spellbound with their excellent musicianship during a wonderful final ! Each group played their own selection of traditional Irish music and song, which was arranged in an imaginative and innovative way. It was a night that will long be remembered by all for it’s celebration of youth and music and sheer entertainment!
Adjudicators Dónal O’Connor (At First Light), Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (Danú) and Síle Denvir (Liadán) were full of praise for the high standard achieved by the young ensembles on the night, and they had a difficult job choosing the winners as a result! Following a polished and very professional performance, ‘Ioscaid’ (Déaglán MagAoidh, Ciaran Ó hAnnaidh, Diarmuid Ó Maolchalainn, Fiontán Ó Maolchalainn, Niall Mac Murchú and Niall Mac Riocaird) were pronounced deserving winners to the delight of their supporters, and were awarded the first prize, a cheque for ?2,500 and the Gael Linn trophy. It is the first time that a group from Northern Ireland has won the competition. Second place, with a prize of ?1250, was awarded to ‘Trí Lasadh’ from Carna, Co. Galway (Rónán Ó Ceannabháin, Proinsias Ó hIarnáin, Conall Ó Flatharta, Cian Ó Súilleabháin, Breandán Ó hIarnáin, Labhrás Ó hIarnáin, Rónán Ó Flatharta and Ciarán Ó Bolguidhir), while third place, with a prize of ?750, went to ‘Cibé’, Raheny, Dublin (Séamus Ó Dúlainn, Máire Ní Dhúlainn, Dónal Mac Aogáin, Aoife Ní Argáin, Bairbre Ní Chonchúir, Eimear Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Caoimhín Mac Uaid and Gráinne Nic Aogáin).
A memento of the occasion, specially designed by Forde Crafts, was awarded to every member of each group who took part in the final. Organisers Gael Linn propose to release a CD of the prizewinners shortly.
Antoine Ó Coileáin, Gael Linn’s CEO, praised all those who participated in this year’s competition and said ‘Siansa Gael Linn is a unique fusion of the Irish language, Irish music and young people. Because of this, it is a perfect vehicle for achieving our aim of promoting Irish in a vibrant way. We are most heartened by the excellence of the groups and by the positive influence which the event has on the use of Irish’.
Video clips of the prizewinners may be viewed shortly on www.gael-linn.ie, but in the meantime, take a look at the gallery of photographs on the website from this marvellous occasion!

Curaidh cheolmhara SIANSA
GAEL LINN 2010 ag ceiliúradh!
Beidh ceiliúradh in Iúr Cinn Trá, Co. an Dúin, go ceann píosa tar éis don ghrúpa ‘Ioscaid’ ón mbaile sin Craobh Siansa Gael Linn a thabhairt leo ar an Domhnach, 25 Aibreán 2010 sa Cheoláras
Náisiúnta. Arna eagrú ag Gael Linn, le tacaíocht ó RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus Irish Music Magazine, tá Siansa anois ar cheann de phríomhchomórtais cheoil/amhránaíochta na tíre.
Chuir an t-ocht ngrúpa a bhí páirteach sa Chraobh (‘Ioscaid’, Iúr Cinn Trá, Co. anDúin; ‘Dílse’, An Trá Mhór, Co. Phort Láirge; ‘Clapsholas’ Baile na Manach agus ‘Cibé’, Ráth Éanna, Baile Átha Cliath; ‘Smidiríní’, Darú, Co. Uíbh Fhailí; ‘Trí Lasadh’, Scoil Phobail Mhic Dara, Carna; ‘Fuinneamh’, Scoil Bhríde, Tuaim agus ‘Anáil’, Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Baile Átha an Rí, Co. na Gaillimhe ) an slua ollmhór a bhí i láthair faoi dhraíocht lena seinm shiansúil ! Bhí a dteaglaim féin de cheol agus d’amhráin thraidisiúnta, cóirithe ar bhealach úr, samhailteach ag gach grúpa, agus géariomaíocht eatarthu don duaischiste ?4,500.
Is iad na ceoltóirí agus na hamhránaithe iomráiteacha Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh ( Danú ), Síle Denvir (Liadán) agus Dónal O’Connor (At First Light) a bhí ag moltóireacht ar an oíche. Bhí an caighdeán chomh hard sin i measc na ngrúpaí go raibh jab rídheacair acu na duaiseoirí a roghnú. Bhí sceitimíní áthais ar ‘Ioscaid’ agus ar a lucht tacaíochta nuair a fógraíodh gurbh iad curaidh Siansa Gael Linn 2010. Bronnadh an phríomhdhuais ?2,500 agus trófaí Gael Linn orthu. Seisear atá sa ghrúpa: Déaglán Mag Aoidh, Ciaran Ó hAnnaidh, Diarmuid Ó Maolchalainn, Fiontán Ó Maolchalainn, Niall Mac Murchú agus Niall Mac Riocaird agus iad uilig an-chumasach ar réimse leathan d’uirlisí! Sa dara háit, bhí ‘Trí Lasadh’ as Carna – Rónán Ó Ceannabháin, Proinsias Ó hIarnáin, Conall Ó Flatharta, Cian Ó Súilleabháin, Breandán Ó hIarnáin, Labhrás Ó hIarnáin, Rónán Ó Flatharta agus Ciarán Ó Bolguidhir. Seo an chéad uair dóibh a bheith páirteach sa Chraobh agus bhí riméad orthu duais ?1,250 a bhuachan! Chuaigh an triú háit agus seic ar ?750 don ghrúpa ‘Cibé’ ó Ráth Éanna, Baile Átha Cliath. Cé go bhfuil na ceoltóirí Séamus Ó Dúlainn, Máire Ní Dhúlainn, Dónal Mac Aogáin, Aoife Ní Argáin, Bairbre Ní Chonchúir, Eimear Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Caoimhín Mac Uaid agus Gráinne Nic Aogáin bainteach le Siansa Gael Linn le tamall de bhlianta, seo an chéad uair dóibh duais a bhaint amach !
Bronnadh duais chuimhneacháin, a bhí deartha go speisialta don ócáid ag Kieran Forde, ar na ceoltóiri uilig a bhí páirteach sa Chraobh. Eiseoidh Gael Linnn dlúthdhiosca leis na buaiteoirí go luath. Mhol Antoine Ó Coileáin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Gael Linn, na ceoltóirí óga ar fad a bhí páirteach sa chomórtas ó thús na bliana agus dúirt ‘Cothaíonn Siansa Gael Linn dlúthcheangal idir an Ghaeilge, an ceol agus an óige. Dá bharr sin, is éifeachtach an bealach é chun an Ghaeilge a leathadh. Is áthas linn an caighdeán ard atá a bhaint amach sa cheol agus an dea-thionchar atá ag an gcomórtas ar úsáid na Gaeilge’.
Is í Áine Hensey ó RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta a rinne sárobair den chur i láthair ar an oíche agus craoladh an cheolchoirm beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. Beidh fístéip de na duaiseoirí le feiceáil ar www.gael-linn.ie sar i bhfad, ach idir an dá linn, caith súil ar an ngailearaí ghrianghraif ar an suíomh ón ócáid iontach seo!