Conamara singer Caitlín Ní Chualáin has the won the 2016 Corn Uí Riada, the premier competition for sean-nós singing which is held annually at the Oireachtas festival.

Seventeen singers participated in the competition at the INEC in Killarney on 5 November. Competitors are asked to sing one main slow song, and then a smaller number are selected to sing a fast song. Eight were called back in this year’s competition.

Ní Chualáin perfomed ‘Máire Ní hEidhin’ followed by ‘Na Buachaillí Bána’. Listen back to her winning performances below and at the bottom of the page.

A journalist with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Ní Chualáin recently performed in Éirí Amach Chois Fharraige, a show written by Joe Steve Ó Neachtain, and Mise Raiftearaí an Fíodóir Focal by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin which was performed at the 2016 Cúirt festival. She is the daughter of sean-nós singer Máirtín Pheaits Ó Cualáin, who was twice a winner of the men’s singing competition at the Oireachtas, 57 years apart, in 1944 and 2001.

The silver medal for this year’s Corn Uí Riada, which is named after the composer Seán Ó Riada, went to Nollaig Ní Laoire from Dún Doire in County Meath, and the bronze medal went to Máirín Uí Chéide from Leitir Móir, Co. Galway.

Corn Uí Riada was broadcast live on radio and presented by Máirtín Tom Sheáinín Mac Donncha. The judges were singers Treasa Ní Cheannabháin, Lillis Ó Laoire and Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich. 

For the results of all competitions at this year’s Oireachtas, visit https://goo.gl/Q55i12