Whistle player Éimhear Flannery has won the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal 2024 (Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada).

The final of the competition took place at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday evening (26 January). Fifteen musicians competed for the annual prize, which highlights a different instrument or set of instruments every year. The focus this year was on flute and tin whistle.

Flannery, who is from Rockchapel, Co. Cork, and also plays the concertina, played two reels on the whistle, ‘Lady on the Island’ and the ‘Union Reel’, and the slow air ‘Seán Ó Duibhir a Ghleanna’, and won the bespoke gold medal prize and €2,500. The judging panel of three comprised Mary Bergin, Rev. Gary Hastings and Conal Ó Gráda.

The full list of finalists included Caoilte Mac Muiris (Rathfarnam, Dublin), Conor McDonagh (Killavil, Co. Sligo), David Nesbitt (Bray, Co. Wicklow), Donnchadh Mac Aodha (Dundalk, Co. Louth), Éabha Ní Mhurchú (Ovens, Co. Cork), Ellen de Búrca (Cill na Martra, Co. Cork), Frankie Mac Aodha (Indreabhán, Co. Galway), Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin (Fermoy, Co. Cork), Seosamh Ó Baoighill (Borrisoleigh, Co. Tippeary), Kerrianne McArdle (Dundalk, Co. Louth), Maitiú Ó Riain (Ennis, Co. Clare), Molly Pittendrigh (Clogher/Ballintubber, Co. Mayo), Nicole Ní Dhubhshláine (An Ghráig, Co. Kerry) and Seamus Noonan (Boston, USA).

Established in 2010 by Peadar Ó Riada through his Cuireadh chun Ceoil radio programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, the competition’s emphasis is on entirely solo playing.

Previous winners include Joe de Georgeo (fiddle), Colm de Brún (concertina), Colm Broderick (uilleann pipes), Fionnuala Donlon (harp), Jillian O’Malley (flute), Rebecca McCarthy Kent (fiddle), Keelan McGrath (accordion), Úna Ní Fhlannagáin (harp), Éanna Ó Cróinín (uilleann pipes), Seán Gavin (flute), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle), Oisín Morrison (harp), Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn (uilleann pipes), Cormac Begley (concertina), and Darragh Curtin (fiddle).

To listen back to the competition, visit www.rte.ie.

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The finalists and judges for the 2024 Bonn Óir Sean Ó Riada (Photo: RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta)