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Youth and Diaspora to the fore in TG4 Traditional Music Awards

www.tg4.ie/gradam

Long-time London resident Brian Rooney heads the list of recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2012 (Traditional Music Awards) announced at a media reception in Carrick-on-Shannon this evening. Born and reared near Kiltyclogher in north-Leitrim, Brian’s sweet fiddle playing soon earned him a place at the very centre of London’s vibrant traditional music scene in the 1970s and his recordings then and since have copperfastened his status.

This year’s Gradam recipients range over a wide spectrum of talents. Those honoured in the various categories include a legendary Donegal fiddler who also spent most of his life in London, a US-based world-renowned composer and scholar originally from Offaly, an Armagh couple whose life has been spend teaching traditional music in that city and county and two young Gaeltacht musicians from Ring and Muskerry who, while still in their early twenties, have already achieved much in their chosen musical disciplines. The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2012 recipients is:

• Gradam Ceoil TG4 – Brian Rooney
• Ceoltóir Óg TG4 (Young Musician) – Caoimhín Ó Fearghail
• Gradam Saoil TG4 (Hall of Fame) – Danny Meehan
• Cumadóir TG4 (Composer) – Paddy O’Brien
• Amhránaí TG4 (Singer) – Nell Ní Chróinín
• Gradam Aitheantais TG4 (Special Contribution) – Eithne and Brian Vallely

(Recipient biographies available on www.tg4.ie/gradamhttp://www.tg4.ie/gradam).

An independent panel of adjudicators selects recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil each year. Recipients are presented with a specially-commissioned piece by sculptor John Coll as well as a stipend. This year’s awards will be presented at the Gradam Ceoil Concert in the UL Concert Hall, Limerick on Saturday 24th March. At the concert, hosted by Aoife Ní Thuairisg and Páidí Ó Lionáird, the 2012 Gradam recipients will be joined on stage their special musical guest. It will be recorded for broadcast on TG4 on Easter Sunday 8th April.

TG4 Director General Pól Ó Gallchóir says that the Gradam Ceoil honours major figures in Irish traditional music during their lifetime. “We are privileged to organise and sponsor this recognition for these extraordinary and talented artists who instill such pride to our culture and adorn our lives with their music,” he said.

Tickets for the Gradam Ceoil concert can be obtained by telephone from 061 331549 or on www.uch.ie
For further Information contact : Linda Ní Ghríofa at email: linda.ni.ghriofa@tg4.ie

Permalink - Posted: February 2, 2012 at 1:42 pm