Bonn Oir Seán O Riada 2025
Tá Bonn Óir Sheáin Uí Riada 2025 buaite ag Ríona Hely as Inis, contae an Chláir. Craoladh craobh an chomórtais beo ó Óstán Pháirc Bhaile an Róistigh i gCorcaigh oíche Aoine 23 Eanáir 2026 ar an gclár Cuireadh Chun Ceoil ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, curtha i láthair ag Peadar Ó Riada.
The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2025 has been won by Ríona Hely from Inis, County Clare. The final of the competition was broadcast live from the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday night, 23 January 2026, on the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme Cuireadh Chun Ceoil, presented by Peadar Ó Riada.
Bhí an comórtas dírithe ar na huirlisí giolcaigh miotail i mbliana, lena n-áirítear an bosca ceoil, an consairtín agus an t-orgán béil. Ba iad na ceoltóirí iomráiteacha Mary Mac Namara as contae an Chláir, a chasann an consairtín, agus na boscadóirí Johnny Óg Connolly agus Danny O Mahony a bhí i mbun moltóireachta i mbliana.
This year’s competition focused on metal-reed instruments, including the accordion, concertina and harmonica. The judges this year were renowned musicians Mary MacNamara from County Clare, who plays the concertina, and accordion players Johnny Óg Connolly and Danny O’Mahony.
Bhí 15 ceoltóir ó gach cearn den tír, beirt as Meiriceá ina measc, san iomaíocht don duais mhór i mbliana. Bronnadh an bonn óir, a dhear Niamh Utsch, agus €2500 ar Ríona.
Fifteen musicians from across the country, including two from America, competed for the prestigious prize this year. Ríona was awarded the gold medal, designed by Niamh Utsch, along with €2,500.
Tá Ríona i mbun céime sa Cheol agus sa Ghaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh. Tá a lán duaiseanna buaite aici, duaiseanna Fleadh Ceoil agus Siansa san áireamh. Tá sí tiománta do thraidisiún an cheoil a thabhairt ar aghaidh chuig an chéad ghlúin eile, agus múineann sí ranganna ceoil i gCorcaigh agus i gcontae an Chláir. Tá suim faoi leith ag Ríona i sean-stíl an chonsairtín, agus bhí tionchar mór ag Elizabeth Crotty agus Kitty Hayes ar a cuid ceoil.
Ríona is currently studying for a degree in Music and Irish at University College Cork. She has won numerous awards, including prizes at the Fleadh Cheoil and Siansa. She is committed to passing the tradition of music on to the next generation and teaches music classes in Cork and County Clare. Ríona has a particular interest in the old-style of concertina playing, and her music has been greatly influenced by Elizabeth Crotty and Kitty Hayes.
This years competitors were:
Bosca Ceoil – Accordion / Melodeon
- Colin Kadis (Boston, Massachusetts, United States)
- Colm Slattery (Nenagh, Co. Tipperary)
- Seosamh Ó Mainín (Dungarvan, Co. Waterford)
Concairtín – Concertina
- Aidan Quigney (Kilmore, Co. Clare)
- Caomhan Mac Gabhan (Ballynacarigy, Co. Westmeath)
- Catriona Fee (Alexandria, Virginia, USA)
- Éabha Ní Murchú (Ovens, Co. Cork)
- Oisín Bradley (Killeavy, Co. Armagh)
- Ríona Hely (Ennis, Co. Clare)
- Sean Ahern (Kilbrittain, County Cork)
Órgán Béil – Mouth Organ
- William Holmes (Rath Chabán, Co. Tiobrad Arann)
Gailearaí na ngrianghraf
