Two Mayo finalists announced for prestigious Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal competition

Two Mayo Finalists will be competing in the Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir competition in the Rochestown Hotel in Cork City on Friday January 24.

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 an American finalist in the competition again this year”.

“We are particulary 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,” he added.

The two Mayo finalists are named Seán Ó Malley from Achill and Catherine Joyce from Castlebar who will both be showcasing their musical talent in the competition finals with a chance of winning €2,500 and a gold medal.

Seán O Malley started learning the uileann pipes originally from his father who is a well known musician Ciarán O’Malley.

He received some tuition from Na Piobairí Uileann in Dublin but was also inspired at Scoil Acla and The Willie Clancy Summer School by the likes of Robbie Hannan and Tommy Keane.

He also says that he has been hugely influenced by the playing of Seamus Ennis and Liam O’Flynn.

Harpist Catherine Joyce from Castlebar in Co Mayo also plays the flute and is a great singer.

She has learned from the best including Laoise Kelly and Emer Mayock and she has won over 60 medals in various competitions from the Fleadh Ceoil to the International Harp Festival Arpademia.

She has performed on several TV and Radio programmes and at prestigious events at home and abroad.

She is a third level student at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and is also a member of various groups including Rolling Waves and the Mayo Harp Ensemble.

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 both the harp and the uileann pipes.

The competition this year attracted the highest ever number of entrants since its inception in 2010 with the numbers being whittled down to 6 harpers (all female) and 9 pipers.

Unlike previous years there is only one finalist from the US for 2025 with most of the other finalists hailing from Dublin or the West of Ireland.

Most finalists all come from some kind of musical background with many of them having siblings or parents who play music which is now being passed on to the next generation.

More than half the contestants have competed and won prizes in many of the recent all Ireland Fleadh Ceoil and significant also that nearly all the uileann pipers have learned the pipes or got tuition from Na Piobairí Uileann.

The judges for this years competition are esteemed Dublin piper Mick O Brien, Scottish renowned piper Ailean Domhnallach and acclaimed harpist Siobhan Armstrong.

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There will be two separate prizes for harp and uileann pipes with the winner for each instrument getting a bespoke Gold medal designed by Niamh Utsch, as well a cash prize of €2,500 each.

Tickets for the event can be brought at the door for €10 and it will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta and streamed online.
The competition is being sponsored by RnaG, Comhaltas, Gael Linn, IMRO, Rochestown Park Hotel and Iontaoibheas Fódhla.

The other west of Ireland finalists are all harpist Éilis Needham from Hazelwood in Co Sligo, harpist Emma Benson from Keadue in Co Roscommon and Uileann piper Tara Boyle from Clonbur in Co Gaway.