Two Co Armagh musicians are due to compete for a gold medal and €2,500 in The Seán O Riada Bonn Óir Competition this month in Cork.
Taking place on January 23, at the Rochestown Park Hotel, the competition will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on the programme Cuireadh Chun Ceoil, presented by Peadar Ó Riada from 7pm.
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.
This year focuses on metal reed instruments including the accordion, concertina, and harmonica.
The winner will be presented with a bespoke gold medal designed by Niamh Utsch, and a cash prize of €2,500.
This year’s competition features competitors from all corners of Ireland, including two talented musicians from Armagh.
Annalise Whyte is an accordion player from Keady, Armagh. She learned music at the Armagh Pipers Club and from her childhood teacher Donna McCusker.
She is a fourth-year student of traditional music at the University of Limerick and is currently recording her first album, which she hopes to release this summer.
Concertina player Oisín Ó Brolacháin from Killeavy, Armagh has been playing concertina since he was seven years of age.
He has played abroad on a number of occasions in countries like the USA, Russia, and many European countries, and is currently studying Communications, Advertising and Marketing in Belfast, where he plays music regularly and teaches concertina and plays with the Cloughmór Ceili Band from Warrenpoint in Co Down.
The competition has been running since 2010 and is renowned for attracting a large number of talented musicians from Ireland and overseas.
Organised by Cuireadh Chun Ceoil presenter Peadar O Riada, this year’s judges are the renowned concertina player Mary McNamara and accordion players Johnny Óg Connolly and Danny O Mahony.
Event organiser and presenter, Peadar Ó Riada said: “We are very pleased that the competition is going from strength to strength with entrants from all over the world and two American finalists in the competition this year.
“The standard is very high and we are particularly happy to see the younger generation attending the concert every year, to meet up with each other and to play in the music session afterwards.”
The competition will also be streamed live on Facebook @rternag.
