Bonn Oir Seán O Riada 2011
Is é Tim McHugh as Baile Uí Fhiacháin i Maigh Eo buaiteoir Bhonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada. Bhí 15 ceoltóir san iomaíocht i gcraobh an chomórtais Dé hAoine a craoladh beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta ó Ostán an Rochestown Park i gCorcaigh. Bonn Óir agus seic €2500 an duais a bronnadh ar Tim.
Flute player Tim McHugh from Newport in Mayo was announced as winner of the Seán Ó Riada gold medal and prize money of €2500 on Friday night. He was amongst 15 traditional flute and whistle players who took to the stage in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday 13 January to compete in the final.
Bhí 15 ceoltóir san iomaíocht i gcraobh an chomórtais Dé hAoine a craoladh beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta ó Ostán an Rochestown Park i gCorcaigh. Bonn Óir agus seic €2500 an duais a bronnadh ar Tim. Ba iad Mary Bergin, Michael Tubridy agus Matt Molloy na moltóirí – beirt acu a bhí i láthair san óstán, agus an tríú duine, Matt Molloy, a bhí ag éisteacht agus ag faire ar chóras Skype ó na hOileáin Chanáracha, 1500 míle ar shiúl.
As Baile Uí Fhiacháin i Maigh Eo do Tim, cé go bhfuil sé ag cur faoi i mBaile Átha Cliath le roinnt blianta anuas, áit a bhfuil sé ag obair mar innealtóir. Is óna mhuintir agus a chairde is mó a d’fhoghlaim sé a chuid ceoil, agus bíonn sé i mbun ceoil go rialta i gCathair na Mart, sa Daingean, i nGaillimh agus i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí cúpla cara leis san iomaíocht sa chraobh oíche Aoine chomh maith, orthu sin Ferdia Ó Mongáin as Maigh Eo agus Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin as Baile Átha Cliath, rud a chuir go mór leis an oíche dar le Tim. Dúirt sé go raibh sé thar a bheith sásta an duais a bheith buaite aige, agus gur bhain sé an-phléisiúr as a bheith ag seinm ar an ardán Dé hAoine.
Chuir os cionn 60 ceoltóir ó gach cearn den domhan isteach ar an gcomórtas, agus roghnaigh na moltóirí 15 acu sin le bheith san iomaíocht sa chraobh, orthu siúd sagart Liútarach ón bhFionlainn, Markus Asunta, ceoltóir óg Gael-Mheiriceánach, Seán Gavin, agus ceoltóir a ainmníodh do ghradam mhór cheoil thraidisiúnta in Alban anuraidh, Tom Oakes. Beidh comórtas na bliana seo ag teacht dírithe ar na píobaí uilleann agus ar an gcláirseach.
Bhíodh comórtas ceoil ag Seán Ó Riada ar a chlár raidió sna seascaidí, agus is as sin a fuair Peadar Ó Riada an spreagadh don chomórtas seo dá chlár féin ar Raidió na Gaeltachta. Is í an aidhm atá leis, an clann éisteoirí atá ag Cuireadh chun Ceoil i ngach cearn den domhan a thabhairt le chéile trí leas a bhaint as an nua-theicneolaíocht. Tá béim faoi leith sa chomórtas seo chomh maith ar cheolmhaireacht agus ar chruthaitheacht sa cheol, seachas ar chruinneas teicniúil amháin.
Tá ardmheas ar na ceoltóirí a rinne an mholtóireachta ar an gcomórtas. As BÁC ó dhúchas do Mhary Bergin, ach tá cónaí uirthi anois i nGaillimh. Is máistir ar an bhfeadóg stáin í, agus baill den ghrúpa Dordán. Chaith sí seal chomh maith ag seinm le Dé Danann. As iarthar an Chláir do Mhichael Tubridy, duine de bhunaitheoirí Na Chieftains, agus ceoltóir cumasach ar chúpla uirlis, orthu sin an fheadóg mhór agus an consairtín. As Ros Comáin do Mhatt Molloy, duine de na Chieftains, agus ceoltóir a bhfuil aithne go forleathan air. Bhí sé ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí The Bothy Band, agus chas sé leis an ngrúpa Planxty chomh maith.
Is féidir éisteacht siar leis an gcomórtas ag www.rte.ie/rnag.
The judges on the night were renowned musicians Mary Bergin and Michael Tubridy, and they were joined by Matt Molloy via Skype from 1500 miles away in the Canary Islands.
Speaking of his win, Tim said that he was surprised but delighted to have won, and that he had greatly enjoyed the night and the atmosphere. Some of the other finalists on the night included friend and fellow Mayo man Ferdia Ó Mongáin, and Dubliner Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, so that ensured that there was a bit of friendly rivalry. Tim learned most of his music from friends and family, and plays a lot around Westport, as well as in Dingle, Galway and around Dublin where he currently lives and works as an engineer.
The 15 finalists were chosen from among over 60 musicians from all over the world who entered the competition on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme Cuireadh chun Ceoil, and included a Lutheran priest Markus Asunta from Finland, young Irish American musician Sean Gavin from Detroit, and award-winning Scottish guitarist and flute player Tom Oakes.
Peadar Ó Riada inaugurated the competition two years ago, taking the idea from his father, the great Seán Ó Riada, who ran a similar competition on his radio programme in the sixties. Its aim is to bring the worldwide family of listeners to his Cuireadh chun Ceoil programme closer, using modern technology that allows people to easily record and transmit music at little cost. The competition sets itself apart from others in that it rewards musicality and creativity in playing, not just technical proficiency, as can sometimes be the case. For the coming year the competition will be open to pipes and harp.
The judges on the night were all highly respected musicians. Mary Bergin, originally from Dublin but now living in Galway, is considered one of the masters of the tin whistle. She has played in various groups over the years, including Dé Danann, and is currently a member of Dordán. Michael Tubridy is a gifted musician from Clare and was one of the founders of the Chieftains. Matt Molloy needs little introduction. Originally from Roscommon, but now resident in Westport, Matt is a member of The Chieftains, was one of the founders of The Bothy Band in the seventies and also played with Planxty.
You can listen back to the competition at www.rte.ie/rnag.
