Offaly and Tipperary musicians among finalists in Comórtas Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada this Friday

AN Offaly accordion player and two musicians from Tipperary are among 15 finalists for the Seán O Riada Bonn Óir Competition which is due to take place in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on this Friday January 23rd.

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.

Ademar O'Connor from Ballygibbon, Co Offaly, William Holmes from Rathcabbin, Co Tipperary, and Colm Slattery from Ballywilliam near Nenagh are among the the 15 finalists.

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.

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There will be one overall prize for the metal reed winner with seven finalists in the concertina, seven 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”.

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!

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Accordion player Ademar O'Connor is from Ballygibbon, Co Offaly. 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.

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.

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