Northern Ireland

Four northern musicians in running for Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month

Annie and Méabh Smyth from Ballymacnab in Co Armagh are among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in a prestigious traditional music competition in Cork next month
Annie and Méabh Smyth from Ballymacnab in Co Armagh are among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in a prestigious traditional music competition in Cork next month Annie and Méabh Smyth from Ballymacnab in Co Armagh are among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in a prestigious traditional music competition in Cork next month

Four musicians from Northern Ireland are to compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month.

Annie and Méabh Smyth from Co Armagh, Sinéad Nic Cionnaith from Co Tyrone, and Úna McGlinchey, also from Co Tyrone, are among 14 finalists who will take part in the prestigious traditional music competition.

Peadar Ó Riada will present the event live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from the Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday, February 3.

The winner of the competition will take home the bespoke gold medal, as well as €2,500.

Mr Ó Riada said: "We are very happy with the development of the competition over the last 13 years and its place in the international world of traditional Irish Music.

"Radio makes the world grow smaller and the competition has attracted entrants from across the world through the Cuireadh chun Ceoil programme," he said.

"The calibre of this year’s entrants is as high as it’s ever been and we believe the competition is setting a standard, and this is due in great part to the quality of its adjudicators over the years.

"We hope that trad audiences will tune in on the night, and we’ll also have the live stream as we do every year".

Sinéad Nic Cionnaith from Augher in Co Tyrone will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month
Sinéad Nic Cionnaith from Augher in Co Tyrone will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month Sinéad Nic Cionnaith from Augher in Co Tyrone will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month
Úna McGlinchey from Omagh in Co Tyrone is among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month
Úna McGlinchey from Omagh in Co Tyrone is among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month Úna McGlinchey from Omagh in Co Tyrone is among 14 finalists who will compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in Cork next month