The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2015 goes to flute player Sean Gavin, from Chicago and Detroit via Meelick in Co. Clare. This is the first time the medal has been won by a musician from outside Ireland.

Sean was born and raised in Detroit, and moved to Chicago eight years ago. He was encouraged to play by his father, fiddler Mick Gavin from Meelick, Co. Clare, and has had a lifelong love for traditional Irish music. He played a variety of Irish instruments when he was young, finally settling on the flute at age 11. Scariff flute player Leo MacNamara moved to Sean’s hometown of Detroit in the late 1990s, and was an important influence on him.

Sean is an active member of the Irish music community of Chicago where he performs and teaches regularly. He travels to Ireland often, and is well-known here in traditional Irish music circles.

Esteemed musicians and judges Patsy Hanly, Mick O’Connor and Mary Bergin picked Sean from amongst 15 top traditional whistle and flute players, including Clare musicians Cillian Boyd from Ennis and Gearóid McNamara from Tulla, during the final of the competition in the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, on Friday night. Sean Gavin received the Seán Ó Riada medal, made by Cashel goldsmith Pádraig Ó Mathúna, and €2000.

Musician, composer and broadcaster Peadar Ó Riada presented the final live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Is é Sean Gavin ó Detroit agus Chicago Mheiriceá a thug leis Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada 2015 ag an gcraobh a craoladh beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta ó Óstán Pháirc Bhaile an Róistigh i gCorcaigh oíche Dé hAoine. Seo an chéad uair don bhonn a bheith ag dul thar lear.
Rugadh agus tógadh Sean i Detroit, ach tá cónaí air i Chicago anois le 8 mbliana anuas. Is de bhunadh na hÉireann é, as Meelick i gCo an Chláir dá athair, an fidléir Mick Gavin. Tá sé sáite sa cheol Gaelach ó bhí sé an-óg, agus chas sé réimse leathan uirlisí sular shocraigh sé ar an bhfeadóg mhór nuaira bhí sé 11 bliain d’aois.

Ba faoi na ceoltóirí aitheanta Patsy Hanly, Mick O’Connor agus Mary Bergin a bhí sé an buaiteoir a phiocadh ó 15 scoth-cheoltóir a bhí ar an ardán oíche Dé hAoine. Ba é Peadar Ó Riada a bhí ina fhear an tí.

Seo an dara huair do Sean a bheith sa chraobh, bhí sé sa chraobh don bhonn óir ceithre bliain ó shin nuair a bhí an fheadóg mhór i gceist leis an gcomórtas go deireanach.

Bíonn Sean in Éirinn go rialta, agus aithne mhaith air i measc lucht an cheoil anseo. Chaith sé an tseachtain seo caite idir an Daingean, An Spidéal agus Co. an Chláir sular thug sé aghaidh ar Chorcaigh.