Louisburgh musician to compete for Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal

LOUISBURGH musician Jillian O’Malley will be amongst 15 flute and whistle players who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal on Friday, February 5, in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork. The final will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Tim McHugh from Newport won the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal the last time the competition was open to the flute, in 2012.

Jillian plays the whistle and flute, and won three senior All-Ireland medals at the Fleadh Cheoil in 2013 for whistle, flute and slow airs on flute.

She was a member of the Knocknashee Céilí Band in 2014 that came second in the senior céilí band competition. Although she loves playing tunes, she feels there’s something very special in the slow airs and songs.

Jillian graduated with BA in Applied Languages from UL last year and is now working with Microsoft Ireland in Dublin in a role that uses her language and business skills. In her spare time she teaches music in Dublin and is a member of the Macalla 1916 Orchestra who will be playing all around the country this year.

As well as the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal final, this year the weekend’s events will include a congress for traditional musicians on Saturday, February 6. The event is intended to help and advise traditional musicians on a host of subjects. It will run from 2 to 5 p.m., with speakers from the music industry giving talks on funding opportunities, publicity, insurance, copyright, marketing and publishing, amongst other topics. Entry is €5 and musicians can register at claru@cuireadhchunceoil.ie.

Saturday evening’s events will be completed by a free concert at 8 p.m. featuring several of the past winners of the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal.

The Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal final will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on February 5 at 7 p.m. For full details on the final and the congress, see www.rte.ie/rnag.