www.rte.ie/rnag

15 traditional flute and whistle players, including a Lutheran priest Markus Asunta from Finland, young Irish American musician Sean Gavin from Detroit, and award-winning Scottish guitarist and flute player Tom Oakes, will be among those taking to the stage in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday 13 January to compete for the Seán Ó Riada gold medal and €2500 in prize money.  The judges on the night will be renowned musicians Mary Bergin and Michael Tubridy, and they will be joined by Matt Molloy via Skype from 1500 miles away in the Canary Islands.

The 15 finalists were chosen from among over 60 musicians from all over the world who entered the competition on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil, and the final will be broadcast live on the station on Friday night, and can also be watched live online at www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie.

Peadar Ó Riada inaugurated the competition two years ago, taking the idea from his father, the great Seán Ó Riada, who ran a similar competition on his radio programme in the sixties.  Its aim is to bring the worldwide family of listeners to his Cuireadh chun Ceoil programme closer, using modern technology that allows people to easily record and transmit music at little cost.  The competition sets itself apart from others in that it rewards musicality and creativity in playing, not just technical proficiency, as can sometimes be the case.  Young Dublin fiddler Aoife O’Brien won the medal in the competition’s inaugural final last January.

The judges are all highly respected musicians.  Mary Bergin, originally from Dublin but now living in Galway, is considered one of the masters of the tin whistle.  She has played in various groups over the years, including Dé Danann, and is currently a member of Dordán.  Michael Tubridy is a gifted musician from Clare and was one of the founders of the Chieftains.  Matt Molloy needs little introduction.  Originally from Roscommon, but now resident in Westport, Matt is a member of The Chieftains, was one of the founders of The Bothy Band in the seventies and also played with Planxty.

The competition can be heard live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Friday 13 January from 7pm-9pm, and also live online at www.rte.ie/rnag.  It can be seen live at www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie.

The Rochestown Park Hotel is offering a special deal of €40 for a night’s accommodation and entry to the competition www.rochestownpark.com.

Further information:
Caitríona Ní Bhaoill, Press Officer, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
+353868769585          caitriona.nibhaoill@rte.ie

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Matt Molloy le moltóireacht a dhéanamh ar Bhonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada
ar chóras Skpe ó na hOileáin Chanáracha

Beidh 15 ceoltóir ar stáitse in Óstán an Rochestown Park i gCorcaigh Dé hAoine 13 Eanáir agus iad san iomaíocht do Bhonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada, agus seic €2500, i gcraobh chomórtas ceoil Chuireadh chun Ceoil ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.  Beidh beirt de na moltóirí, Mary Bergin agus Michael Tubridy, i láthair san óstán, agus beidh an tríú moltóir, Matt Molloy, ag éisteacht agus ag faire ar chóras Skype ó na hOileáin Chanáracha, 1500 míle ar shiúl.

Bhí os cionn 60 ceoltóir ó gach cearn den domhan a chuir isteach ar an gcomórtas, agus roghnaigh na moltóirí 15 acu sin le bheith san iomaíocht sa chraobh, orthu siúd ceoltóirí ón bhFionlainn, as Chicago, as Londain, as Dún Éideann na hAlban, agus as Éirinn.  Beidh an comórtas le cloisteáil beo ar an gclár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil ar Raidió na Gaeltachta ag 7pm Dé hAoine, agus beidh sé le feiceáil beo ar an idirlíon ag www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie.

Bhíodh comórtas ceoil ag Seán Ó Riada ar a chlár raidió sna seascaidí, agus is as sin a fuair Peadar Ó Riada an spreagadh don chomórtas seo dá chlár féin ar Raidió na Gaeltachta.  Is í an aidhm atá leis, an clann éisteoirí atá ag Cuireadh chun Ceoil i ngach cearn den domhan a thabhairt le chéile trí leas a bhaint as an nua-theicneolaíocht.  Tá béim faoi leith sa chomórtas seo chomh maith ar cheolmhaireacht agus ar chruthaitheacht sa cheol, seachas ar chruinneas teicniúil amháin.  Is í an fidléir óg as Baile Átha Cliath Aoife Ní Bhriain a bhain an bonn anuraidh.

Tá ardmheas ar na ceoltóirí a bheidh ag déanamh moltóireachta ar an gcomórtas.  As BÁC ó dhúchas do Mhary Bergin, ach tá cónaí uirthi anois i nGaillimh.  Is máistir ar an bhfeadóg stáin í, agus baill den ghrúpa Dordán.  Chaith sí seal chomh maith ag seinm le Dé Danann.  As iarthar an Chláir do Mhichael Tubridy, duine de bhunaitheoirí Na Chieftains, agus ceoltóir cumasach ar chúpla uirlis, orthu sin an fheadóg mhór agus an consairtín.  As Ros Comáin do Mhatt Molloy, duine de na Chieftains, agus ceoltóir a bhfuil aithne go forleathan air.  Bhí sé ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí The Bothy Band, agus chas sé leis an ngrúpa Planxty chomh maith.

Beidh an comórtas á chraoladh beo as Corcaigh ar an gclár Cuireadh chun Ceoil ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Dé hAoine 13 Eanáir ó 7pm-9pm.  Is féidir éisteacht ar líne chomh ag www.rte.ie/rnag.  Beidh sé le feiceáil beo ag www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie

Tá tairiscint speisialta ag an Rochestown Park de €40 leaba agus bricfeasta agus cead isteach chuig an gcomórtas, www.rochestownpark.com.

Tuilleadh Eolais:
Caitríona Ní Bhaoill, Oifigeach Poiblíochta, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
+353868769585          caitriona.nibhaoill@rte.ie