Jillian O’Malley Wins Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition 2020
Jillian O’Malley from Louisburgh in County Mayo has won the Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir traditional music competition. O’Malley competed against 14 other finalists on Friday 7 February at the Rochestown Hotel in Cork.
O’Malley has previously won senior all-Ireland medals at the Fleadh Cheoil. She graduated with a BA in applied languages from UL and is a member of the Macalla 1916 Orchestra.
The competition, which focuses on a different instrument each year, was founded by Peadar Ó Riada and is now in its tenth year. Last year, the competition featured fiddle-playing and was won by Waterford musician Rebecca McCarthy Kent. The judges for this year’s competition were Michael Tubridy, Mary Bergin and Gary Hastings.
The competition was broadcast and streamed live by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. Watch O’Malley’s winning performance below from 55.50. For more, visit www.facebook.com/RTERnaG.