Tyrone fiddlers to compete in finals of live-streamed competition

Two talented Tyrone musicians, Sinéad Nic Cionnaith and Úna McGlinchey, will be amongst the 14 finalists from across Ireland and the USA who will compete for the ‘Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal’ in Cork tomorrow (Friday, February 3).

Peadar Ó Riada will present the event from the Rochestown Park Hotel, and it will be broadcast live to audiences from 7pm on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and on social media.

Sinéad is a young musician, raised in a musical family in Augher. Her family has historic roots in the fiddling tradition, and she has played all over the world with many well-known musicians.

Meanwhile, Úna of Omagh has been playing the fiddle since the age of seven. Hailing from a musical family, Úna’s father plays the flute, and her three younger sisters play fiddle or concertina. Over the years, she has been guided by the tutelage of Nollaig Casey and Bríd Harper.

The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal competition is a prestigious traditional music competition that focuses on a different instrument every year over a four-year cycle, and this year it is for fiddle.

Attracting the highest ever number of entries this year since its inception in 2010, the judges this year are esteemed traditional musicians, Connie O’Connell, Éamon McGivney and Ciarán Ó Maonaigh.

The winner will take home the bespoke gold medal, as well as €2,500. Competition organiser, Peadar Ó Riada, said that ‘the calibre of this year’s entrants is as high as it’s ever been’.

“We are very happy with the development of the competition over the last 13 years, and its place in the international world of traditional Irish music radio makes the world grow smaller,” he said. “We believe the competition is setting a standard, and this is due in great part to the quality of its adjudicators over the years. We hope that trad audiences will tune in on the night, and we’ll also have the live stream as we do every year.”

The full list of finalists are Adam Cole-Mullen, Boston; Alice Bradley, Maryland; Andrew Caden, Maryland; Joe de Georgeo, Minnesota; Ty Kelliher, Connecticut; Caoimhe Flannery, Rockchapel, Cork; Megan Nic Fhionnghaile, Gaoth Dobhair, Donegal; Annie Smyth, Ballymacnab, Armagh; Jason McGuinness, Dromore West, Sligo; Macdara Ó Faoláin, An Rinn, Waterford; Méabh Smyth, Armagh; Pax Ó Faoláin, An Rinn, Waterford; Sinéad Nic Cionnaith, Augher, Tyrone; and Úna McGlinchey, Omagh, Tyrone. The competition is sponsored by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Iontaobhas Fódhla, Gael Linn, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, IMRO and the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.

Tickets to the event can be bought on the door for €10, or tune into the event live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta or social media at 7pm.

Good luck, Sinéad and Úna!