www.rte.ie/rnag

A grandson of legendary Sliabh Luachra musician Johnny O’Leary, as well as two of the talented Begley family from West Kerry, will be among fifteen traditional musicians who will take to the stage in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on 7 February to compete in the final for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal.  The event will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and also webcast on www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie.

This year’s competition focuses on accordion, concertina and mouth organ, and so little wonder, perhaps, that Munster is so strongly represented in the finalists who include five musicians from Clare, four from Kerry, two from Tipperary, one from Cork, one from Meath, one from Dublin, and one from California, ranging in age from twelve to fifty something!

Maighréad Ní Luasa has the honour of being the only Cork competitor.  Maighréad is a national school teacher from Cúil Aodha, and has been playing the box since she was six years old.

Many of the competitors come from families that are rooted in the tradition, and include Bryan O’Leary, a grandson of legendary Sliabh Luachra box player Johnny O’Leary, and two of the well-known Begley family from West Kerry, Niall and Cormac.

Don Meade will undertake the longest journey to the final in Cork, travelling all the way from New York.  Don is the producer of a series of Irish traditional music concerts held in New York University’s Glucksman Ireland House, and also spent ten years as a music columnist with the Irish Voice newspaper.   He will compete on the mouth organ.

This year’s competition will be judged by master musicians Charlie Harris, Mick Mulcahy and Noel Hill.

The winner of the competition will receive the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal and €2000.

For those interested in attending the competition, the Rochestown Park is offering a special rate of €50 for B&B and entry to the competition.  Contact the hotel directly on 021 4890800.

The competition is sponsored by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Iontaobhas Fódhla, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Gael Linn and The Rochestown Park Hotel.

The final for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal can be heard live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Friday 7 Febuary at 7pm.  Listen on 92-94 fm, or online www.rte.ie/rnag.  The concert will also be webcast live www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie

Na Muimhnigh chun cinn sa chraobh do Bhonn Óir Seán Ó Riada

Beidh 15 ceoltóir san iomaíocht sa chraobh do Bhonn Óir Seán Ó Riada in Óstán Pháirc Bhaile an Róistigh i gCorcaigh Dé hAoine 7 Feabhra.   Beidh garmhac leis an sárcheoltóir Johnny O’Leary ó Shliabh Luachra, agus beirt de mhuintir Uí Bheaglaoich, ina measc, agus beidh an chraobh le cloisteáil beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.  Beidh sé le feiceáil beo ar líne freisin ag www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie .

Is iad an bosca ceoil, an consairtín agus an orgán béil na huirlisí atá i gceist i gcomórtas na bliana seo, agus ní haon iontas é mar sin, b’fhéidir, gur as Cúige Mumhan do thromlach na n-iomaitheoirí.  As Co. an Chláir do chúigear, as Ciarraí do cheathrar, as Tiobraid Árann do bheirt, as Co. Chorcaí do dhuine amháin, agus ansin tá duine amháin as BÁC, as Co. na Mí, agus as California!  Tá réimse leathan aoise i gceist freisin.  Tá an ceoltóir is óige 12 bliain d’aois, agus tá an duine is sine sna caogaidí.

Tá an ceol san fhuil ag go leor de na hiomaitheoirí.  Is garmhac leis an gceoltóir cáiliúil Johnny O’Leary as Sliabh Luachra é Bryan O’Leary.  Beidh beirt chol ceathrar as Corca Dhuibhne san iomaíocht le chéile sa chraobh freisin, beirt de mhuintir ceolmhar Uí Bheaglaoich, Cormac agus Niall.

Is é Don Meade an duine a chaithfeas an t-aistear is faide a thógáil air féin le teacht go Corcaigh don chraobh.  Beidh Don ag taisteal anonn as Meiriceá.  As California ó dhúchas é, cé go bhfuil cónaí air i Nua Eabhrac le fada, agus baint mhór aige le saol an cheoil thraidisiúnta i Meiriceá.  Reáchtálann sé sraith coirmeacha i Glucksman House, Ollscoil Nua Eabhrac, agus chaith sé deich mbliana ina cholúnaí ceoil leis an nuachtán Irish Voice.  Beidh Don ag casadh ar an orgán béil sa chomórtas.

Is iad na ceoltóirí aitheanta Mick Mulcahy, Noel Hill agus Charlie Harris na moltóirí a bheidh ar chomórtas na bliana seo.  Bronnfar Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada agus duais airgid €2000 ar an mbuaiteoir.

Tá tairiscint speisialta ag Óstán Pháirc Bhaile an Róistigh don ócáid - €50 ar leaba agus bricfeasta agus cead isteach san óstán.   Cuir glaoch ar an óstán ag 021 4890800 le seomra a chur in áirithe.

Is iad na hurraithe ar an gcomórtas: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Iontaobhas Fódhla, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Gael Linn agus Óstán Pháirc Bhaile an Róistigh.

Beidh an chraobh do Bhonn Óir Seán Ó Riada le cloisteáil beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Dé hAoine 7 Feabhra ag 7pm.  Is féidir éisteacht ag 92-94 fm, nó beo ar líne www.rte.ie/rnag.  Is féidir freisin é a fheiceáil beo ag www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie