RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has announced the fifteen traditional music finalists who will compete in the 2024 Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition (Bonn Óir Sean Ó Riada).

The competition highlights a different instrument, or set of instruments, each year and this year the focus is on flute and tin whistle. Fifteen musicians will perform this Friday 26 January at 7pm in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork, and the competition will also be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

The list of finalists is as follows:

Caoilte Mac Muiris (Rathfarnam, Dublin)
Conor Mc Donagh (Killavil, Co. Sligo)
David Nesbitt (Bray, Co. Wicklow)
Donnchadh Mac Aodha (Dundalk, Co. Louth)
Éabha Ní Mhurchú (Ovens, Co. Cork)
Éimhear Flannery (Rockchapel, Co. Cork)
Ellen de Búrca (Cill na Martra, Co. Cork)
Frankie Mac Aodha (Indreabhán, Co. Galway)
Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin (Fermoy, Co. Cork)
Seosamh Ó Baoighill (Borrisoleigh, Co. Tippeary)
Kerrianne McArdle (Dundalk, Co. Louth)
Maitiú Ó Riain (Ennis, Co. Clare)
Molly Pittendrigh (Clogher/Ballintubber, Co. Mayo)
Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine (An Ghráig, Co. Kerry)
Seamus Noonan (Boston, USA)

The winner will receive a bespoke gold medal and €2,500. The judging panel of three comprises Mary Bergin, Rev. Gary Hastings and Conal Ó Gráda.

Established in 2010 by Peadar Ó Riada, the composer Seán Ó Riada’s son, through his Cuireadh chun Ceoil radio programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the competition’s emphasis is on entirely solo playing.

Previous winners include Joe de Georgeo (fiddle), Colm de Brún (concertina), Colm Broderick (uilleann pipes), Fionnuala Donlon (harp), Jillian O’Malley (flute), Rebecca McCarthy Kent (fiddle), Keelan McGrath (accordion), Úna Ní Fhlannagáin (harp), Éanna Ó Cróinín (uilleann pipes), Seán Gavin (flute), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Oisín Morrison (harp), Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn (uilleann pipes), Cormac Begley (concertina), and Darragh Curtin (fiddle).

Tickets will be available on the door at the Rochestown Park Hotel for €10. To listen to the competition, visit www.rte.ie/radio/rnag.

**Update, 27 January: Éimhear Flannery wins Bonn Óir Sean Ó Riada 2024. Listen back to the competition here.

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