The competition for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2014 is now open to entries.  This year’s competition is for fiddle, and closing date is 26 September.    

The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2013 was won by Kerry concertina player Cormac Begley at the final held in Cork in February.  As well as the medal, he also won a cash prize of €2000.  

The competition, now in its fifth year, was initiated by musician and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta presenter Peadar Ó Riada on his radio programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil because he felt that there was far too much emphasis on technique and ornamentation in traditional music competitions these days.  In this competition judges deem character, spirit and musicality as being equally as important as technical proficiency.

To enter, musicians should record 5 pieces of music and upload them to www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie, or alternatively burn them to CD and send them to Peadar Ó Riada.  Full details are on the website.  Those intending to enter are advised to do so as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the closing date.  

15 musicians will be shortlisted, and they will take part in a concert in February in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork, where the winner will be chosen.

Over the next few months Peadar Ó Riada will play some of the entries to the competition on his weekly traditional music programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil on Raidió na Gaeltachta on Fridays at 7 pm.  Listeners can also register with the website www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie to hear the entries.  

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Comórtas do Bhonn Óir Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2014 oscailte anois

Tá an comórtas do Bhonn Óir Seán Ó Riada 2014 oscailte anois.  Is í an fhidil an uirlis atá i gceist i mbliana, agus glacfar le hiarratais go dtí 26 Meán Fómhair.

Chuir Peadar Ó Riada tús leis an gcomórtas seo cúig bliana ó shin i gcuimhne ar a athair.  Síleann Ó Riada go bhfuil an iomarca béime sa lá atá inniu ann ar theicnící agus ar ornáidíocht i gcomórtais cheoil, ach sa chomórtas seo beidh ceolmhaireacht agus spiorad an cheoil chomh tábhachtach céanna do na moltóirí le cruinneas teicniúil.
 
Is é an ceoltóirí Ciarraíoch Cormac Begley a thug leis Bonn Óir 2013 ag an gcraobh i mí Feabhra i gCorcaigh, chomh maith le duais airgid €2000.  

Le cur isteach ar an gcomórtas, ba cheart do cheoltóirí 5 phíosa ceoil a thaifead agus iad a uaslódáil go dtí an suíomh idirlín www.cuireadhchuneoil.ie, nó iad a chur ar dhlúthdhiosca agus iad a chur sa phost chuig Peadar Ó Riada i gCúil Aodha.  Tá na sonraí uilig le fáil ar an suíomh.  Moltar dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo cur isteach ar an gcomórtas é sin a dhéanamh go luath, gan a bheith ag fanacht go dtí an dáta deiridh.  

Roghnófar 15 iomaitheoir don ghearrliosta, agus tabharfar cuireadh dóibh siúd seinm ar stáitse ag ceolchoirm mhór in Óstán an Rochestown Park i gCorcaigh i mí Feabhra, áit a roghnófar an buaiteoir.

Casfaidh Peadar Ó Riada cuid de na hiarrachtaí ó iomaitheoirí ar a chlár Cuireadh chun Ceoil gach Aoine ar Raidió na Gaeltachta ag 7 pm, agus beidh daoine in ann clárú leis an suíomh idirlín www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie agus iad a chloisteáil ansin freisin.