Two Dundalk musicians among finalists for Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal competition

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has announced the 15 finalists who will take part in the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal traditional music competition, with two of the finalists coming from Dundalk.

The competition, which was established in 2010 by Peadar Ó Riada, the composer’s son, through his Cuireadh chun Ceoil radio programme, focuses on a different instrument, or set of instruments, each year and this year the focus is on flute and tin whistle. 

The Dundalk musicians who are among the 15 finalists are Donnchadh Mac Aodha and Kerrianne McArdle.

Donnchadh Mac Aodh is flutist, harpist and composer from Dundalk, who is currently in his third year at UCC, doing a degree in music and Irish. Also, he has a Quercus scholarship for performing arts at the university.

He first learned his music on the flute from Bronagh Needham in Dundalk, and later from Cian Kearins in Dublin. Instructors such as Aoife Granville, Louise Mulcahy and John Wynne had a great influence on his music as he attended music festivals over the years.

He participated in the final for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal four years ago on the flute, and on the harp the following year. He plays a central role in the TradSoc in UCC, trying to promote the tradition in the college.

Kerrianne McArdle is a tin whistle and flute player, also from Dundalk. She began playing with Comhaltas Craobh Dhún Dealgan.

She was taught there by Brónagh Needham-Sherlock, daughter of Peig McGrath Needham, the great Roscommon flute player.

She took part in many groups, bands, now helping out with branch sessions and concerts. She was a member of Nós Nua, Louth Youth Folk Orchestra, and is a current member of the Oriel Traditional Orchestra, and continues to assist with both. 

Kerrianne enjoys listening to and learning from the flute playing of John McKenna, Matt Molloy, John Wynne, Harry Bradley, Tommy Fitzharris and Dave Sheridan, listening to their albums and recordings, attending some of their workshops, and concerts, taking influence from their musical styles and techniques in her own playing.

Kerrianne teaches tin whistle and flute lessons around County Louth with Comhaltas Craobh Dhún Dealgan and Scoraíocht Lann Léire, and is currently studying Primary School Teaching at Dublin City University, hoping to give all children musical experiences in the classroom.

The final of the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal competition will take place at Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork at 7pm this Friday 26 January and tickets can be bought on the door for €10. The competition will also be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and on social media.

The winner of the competition will receive a bespoke gold medal and €2,500. Well-known musicians Mary Bergin, Rev Gary Hastings agus Conal Ó Gráda will have the unenviable task of picking the winner. 

The full list of finalists is as follows: Caoilte Mac Muiris (Rathfarnan, 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) agus Seamus Noonan (Boston, USA).

Sponsors of the competition are Iontaobhas Fódhla, Gael Linn, Rochestown Park, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. For more information, visit https://www.rte.ie/ radio/rnag.