Mayo flute player Jillian O’Malley won the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal at the final for the competition held in Cork on Friday 7 February, presented by Peadar Ó Riada live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Jillian, from Louisburgh in Co. Mayo, started playing whistle when she was just five years old, an instrument she has a lot of respect for, and one she feels often gets overlooked.  She has won many awards down through the years, including the Fleadh Cheoil All-Ireland titles on flute and slow airs on whistle.  She is very involved with the annual Féile Chois Cuain traditional music festival in her hometown.  As well as traditional music, she’s also a beginner on saxophone!

Jillian is a freelance translator, currently living in Carrick on Fergus in Co. Clare.  She will be taking up a translation position in the EU in Brussels in April.
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