Preasráiteas – Comórtas Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada 2025

It’s that time of year again with the Bonn Óir Sean O Riada Competition due to take place in the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday 23/1/2026. There is an eclectic group of finalists in this year’s competition with competitors from all corners of Ireland and two musicians travelling from the US to take part in the final competition which will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

One of those American finalists, New York Concertina player Caitríona Fee, is also a talented music teacher and counts the well known actor Steve Martin as one of her past pupils. She said she had the privilege of teaching the concertina to Steve Martin for several seasons of the TV show ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Catrióna lives in Virginia and teaches the concertina and coaches ceili bands for the Baltimore Irish Music School. She has taught concertina at the Catskills Irish Arts Week and the Baltimore Trad Festival. She was raised in a family of set and step dancers where traditional music was a central part of her upbringing. Catrióna learned to play from Patty Furlong and Lexie Boatright, and was a student of the Pearl River School of Irish Music for many years.

In contrast the other American contestant is third generation Irish American and was encouraged to play the accordion at the age of seventeen by his Irish born grandfather. Colin Kadis whose grandfather’s parents hailed from Ballydesmond and Castleisland and would have been influenced by stories handed down by them about the likes of Tom Billy Murphy, Din Tarrant and Patrick O Keefe. He learned the accordion from Tommy Sheridan and Colm Gannon and he likes to play when he’s not travelling around the Pacific Northwest advising dairy farmers.

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 time features the metal reed instruments – the accordion, concertina, harmonica etc.

The competition has been running since 2010 and is renowned for attracting a large number of talented musicians from at home and abroad. It is organised by Peadar O Riada in part to bring together the listenership of his Cuireadh Chun Ceoil Programme broadcast on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta every Friday night. The judges this year are the well known concertina player Mary McNamara and accordion players Johnny Óg Connolly and Danny O Mahony

There will be one overall prize for the metal reed winner with 7 finalists in the concertina 7 finalists in the accordion and one playing harmonica. The winner will be presented with a bespoke Gold medal designed by Niamh Utsch, and a cash prize of €2,500. Event organiser and presenter Peadar Ó Riada said that “ 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”.

He said that the standard is very high and that “ we are particularly happy to see the younger generation attending the concert every year even when their own instrument doesn’t feature they come back to meet up with each other and to play in the music session afterwards, we look forward to hearing great music again on the night”. Tickets for the event can be bought at the door for €10 and those attending the concert can avail of a special room rate at the Rochestown Park Hotel on the night.

The competition will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta and streamed online.

The event is being sponsored by RnaG, Comhaltas, Gael Linn, IMRO,Rochestown Park Hotel and Iontaobhas Fódhla.

The Finalists

Caitríona Fee Concertina and Colm Kadis Accordion two US competitors as outlined above

The remaining 13 contestants come from all corners of Ireland with two coming from Northern Ireland both from Armagh one playing concertina and the other the accordion.

Concertina player Oisín Ó Brolacháin from Killeavy Co Armagh has been playing concertina since he was 7 years of age. He has played abroad on a number of occasions in countries like the USA, Russia, and many European countries. He is currently studying Communication, Advertising and Marketing at University in Belfast where he plays music regularly. He teaches concertina and plays with the Cloughmór Ceili Band from Warrenpoint in Co Down.

The other Armagh finalist is accordion player Annalise Whyte from Keady in Co Armagh. She learned her music at the Armagh Pipers Club and from her childhood teacher Donna MCCusker. She is a fourth year student of traditional music in Limerick University.She is currently recording her first album and hopes to release it in Summer 2026.

The remaining finalists who play the concertina are all students. Éabha Ní Mhurchú from Ovens, Co. Cork is a Leaving Cert student in Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Baile an Chollaigh. She has been playing the concertina since she was eight years old and is a member of CCÉ Craobh Niall O’ Chathasaigh, Baile an Chollaigh. Éabha also plays the whistle and was a finalist in the Bonn Óir flute & whistle competition in 2023. She has won numerous All Ireland medals in Concertina, Whistle and Composing.

Sean Ahern from Kilbrittain also Co Cork was an early starter too having begun his concertina classes at age 8 with Ballinspittle Comhaltas. He says his main musical influences are Noel Hill and Derek Hickey and he is also influenced by pipe playing, particularly Seamus Ennis. He is in his second year at the University of Galway studying science.

Concertina player Ríona Hely is from Ennis, Co Clare. She is in her second year in University College Cork where she is studying music and Irish and was awarded a “Quercus” scholarship in her first year. She learned to play concertina in east Clare and at music workshops around the country. A regular at the Fleadhs and at Siansa she has won her fair share of medals and is doing her best to pass on the tradition through giving classes both in Cork and Clare. She loves playing in sessions with her friends and is particularly interested in the old style concertina style and is influenced by the playing of Elizabeth Crotty and Kitty Hayes.

Fellow Clareman Aidan Quigney is from Kilmore in east Clare and inherited his interest in music from his mother and his father, both of them flute players. He won the All Ireland Fleadh Ceoil on the concertina in 2022 and also won the musical duet with musician Sarah Fox in 2024. He plays piano as well and is a member of the group The Bath Street Boys. He is currently studying for a Masters degree in Engineering in Dublin where he enjoys playing in sessions at every opportunity.

Caomhan Mac Gabhann from Ballyhug Ballynacarigy Co Westmeath is the last finalist in the concertina section. He grew up in a musical family with his mother Áine playing the fiddle. He played a lot with Áine’s family and was taught initially by her brother renowned concertina player Micheál Ó Raghallaigh. He was always encouraged to listen to all instruments and singing and was taught the importance of a good repertoire of tunes. He is very active with Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann on a local level coaching local groups. He also plays with the group Misneach.

William Holmes from Rathcabbin, Co Tipperary is the only finalist to play the harmonica. He also plays fiddle, uilleann pipes, guitar and piano and is a regular performer at Comhaltas Heritage Centre Brú Ború in Cashel in Co Tipperary. He has played at sessions and concerts across Ireland and abroad, most recently as part of the Comhaltas Cairdeas Tour. He holds a BA in Music and Psychology and is currently completing a Professional Master of Education in Music at the University of Limerick.

Accordion player Colm Slattery is also from Tipperary – from Ballywilliam near Nenagh. Colm was tutored by Ned Kelly on the accordion and has attained many All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles at both underage and senior level, most notably winning the senior button accordion title in 2017. He has performed in concerts and tours across Ireland, the UK, China, Egypt, the USA and regularly plays in sessions around the North Tipperary area with his younger brothers. Colm works as a mixed animal veterinary surgeon in Nenagh and enjoys the contrast between his professional and musical life!

Joseph Mannion is also an accordion player from neighbouring Colligan Co Waterford. He is a multi-instrumentalist and has won numerous All-Ireland Medals in accordion, melodeon, bodhran and duet competitions. Joseph is the accordion player in the Céilí Band ‘Taobh na Mara’. He has been playing music from a very young age and is highly sought after, he enjoys teaching music and playing in the pubs and bars around Dungarvan and at various festivals around the country and abroad. He is doing an apprenticeship in Cabinet Making and is currently in Letterfrack on his phase 4.

Ciarán O’Connell is Button Accordion player and an Uilleann Piper from Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick. Currently in his Final Year of study in the BA in Irish Music in the University of Limerick in the Irish World Academy of Music, he is a member of rising band Alltacht, while being an accomplished performer touring in Egypt, America, England, Italy and Germany, and having 2 All Ireland Titles to his name. Ciarán is also the Youth officer for Limerick Comhaltas, a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and is teaching regularly with Craobh Pheig Uí Riain CCÉ, Music Generation Tipperary and in his own private lessons.

Accordion player Ademar O Connor is from Ballygibbon Co Offally. Coming from a musical family he joined Edenderry Comhaltas along with his two brothers at a young age. He plays several instruments and has racked up medals and prizes for his playing over the years. One of his proudest moments was winning the senior fiddle competition at Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann having won the Fiddler of London prize some time earlier.

Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin Ó Beoláin is the third Corkonian to be taking part in the Bonn Óir Competition. Originally from Fermoy he was a student in UCC studying maths, statistics and of course music. He plays a lot locally and is a favourite among the set dancers especially in the Ballyduff area of Co Waterford.

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Tá an t-am sin don bhliain ag druidim linn arís agus Comórtas Bonn Óir Sean Ó Riada á reachtáil in Ostán an Rochestown i gCorcaigh ar an Aoine 23/1/2026. Dream ildánach iad na hiomaitheoirí sa bhabhta ceannais le hiomaitheoirí ó gach cearn den tír agus beirt ceoltoirí ag taisteal ó Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá chun a bheith páirteach sa chraobh a bheidh a chraoladh beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Is múinteoir ceoil cumasach í duine do na ceoltoirí sin, Caitríona Fee ó Nua-Eabhrac a sheinneann an consairtín agus a chaith tréimhse ag múineadh an t-aisteoir clúiteach Steve Martin. Dúirt sí go raibh sé do phribhléid aici an consairtín a mhúineadh do Steve Martin agus é i mbun aisteoireachta sa tsraith ‘Only Murders in the Building”. Tá Caitríona ina conaí in Virginia agus múineann sí an consairtín do bhannaí céilí agus sa Scoil Cheoil Gaelach in Baltimore. Tógadh í leis an ceol agus a muintir gafa le rince set agus damhsa céime. D’fhoghlaim sí an consairtín ó Patty Furlong agus Lexie Furlong agus chaith sí blianta ina scoláire i scoil cheoil Gaelach Pearl River. Is Gael Mheiriceánach é Colm Kadis a chur suim sa cheol gaelach mar thoradh ar an spreagadh a fuair sé óna seanathair a rugadh in Éireann ach a tógadh i Meiriceá. Is ó Bhaile Deasumhan i gCo Chorcaí agus Oileán Ciarraí a tháinig tuismitheoirí seanathair Choilm agus chuaigh ceol shliabh luachra go mór i bhfeidhm ar siúd rud a chur sé ar aghaidh do dtí na gharmhac. Deir sé go raibh ana a thionchair ag leitheidí Tom Billy Murphy, Din Tarrant agus Patrick O Keefe ar a chuid ceoil. D’fhoghlaim sé an bosca ceoil ó Tommy Sheridan agus Colm Gannon agus is breá leis a bheith ag seinm nuair nach bhíonn sé ag taisteal fud fad Mheiriceá ag cur comhairle ar fheirmeoirí déiríochta. I measc na h-iomaitheoirí eile tá beirt ó Ard Mhacha, , ó Cho an Chláir agus ó Cho Thiobraid Arainn agus triúr ó Cho Chorcaí.

Is comórtas iomráiteach sa cheol traidisiúnta é Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada. Bíonn sé dírithe ar uirlis éagsúil gach bliain thar tréimhse ceithre bliana, agus i mbliana tá sé dírithe ar na giolcaigh miotail – bosca ceoil, consairtín agus orgán béil. Chuir scata iarrthoirí isteach ar an gcomortás, é meadaithe arís i mbliana. Tá líon na n-iomaitheoirí ciorraithe anois go 7 ar an gconsairtín 7 ar an mbosca ceoil agus duine amháin ar an orgán béil, 11 fireann agus 4 baineann.

I mbliana is iad na ceoltóirí iomráiteacha Mary Mac Namara ó Cho an Chláir, Johnny Óg Connolly ó Cho na Gaillimhe agus Danny O Mahony ó Cho Chiarraí atá i mbun moltoireachta. Is catagóir amháin – na giolcaigh miotail – atá i gceist agus bronnfar Bonn Óir, deartha ag

Niamh Utsch, agus duais airgid €2500 ar an té a bhainfidh amach an bua. Dúirt Peadar Ó Riada a d’eagraig an comórtas agus a bheidh á chur i láthair go bhfuil sé “ ana shásta go bhfuil an comórtas ag dul ó neart go neart le hiontralaithe againn ó ar fud na cruinne agus beirt iarrthóir ó Mheiriceá tar éis áit a bhaint amach sa chraobh i mbliana”. Dúirt sé leis go bhfuil an caighdeán ana ard agus go bhfuilid “sásta go h-áirithe mar go bhfuil an gluain óg ag filleadh ar an comórtas bliain i ndiaidh bliana fiú murab é a n-uirlis féin atá i gceist. Bíonn ana cheol ann sa chomórtas beo agus fiú tar éis an chomórtais a bheith imithe den aer.”

Is féidir ticeidí a fháil don ocáid ag an ndoras ar chostas €10 agus beidh lascaine ar leith ar fáil ar sheomraí in Ostán an Rochestown dóibh siúd a bheidh ag freastal ar an ocáid. Craolfar an comórtas beo ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus ar líne.

Tá an comórtas urraithe ag RnaG, Comhaltas, Gael Linn,Imro agus Ostán Bhaile an Róistigh agus Iontaobhas Fodhla.