The Oscars of Traditional Music Makes Triumphant Return to Belfast
Date Posted: February 18, 2019
TG4’s Gradam Ceoil returned to Belfast last night to captivate traditional music fans for a second year running, celebrating the achievements of musicians from Ireland and across the world.
Over 1000 attendees enjoyed a night of show-stopping entertainment at the live concert and awards ceremony, known as the ‘Oscars of traditional music’, which took place in the Waterfront Hall on Sunday 17th February. The 2019 TG4 Gradam Ceoil is supported by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Belfast City Council.
Hosted by TG4 presenter, Doireann Glackin and Belfast-based musician, Dónal O’Connor of well-known band, Ulaid, the night featured live performances from the six Gradam Ceoil 2019 recipients who were joined on stage by their own special musical guests in a unique, world-class line-up of top trad talent. Award winners were joined on-stage by notable presenters including esteemed Belfast-born actor Ian McElhinney, world-class accordionist and previous Gradam winner, Joe Burke and Minister of State for Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon.
Sunday night’s bill was headlined by legendary traditional Irish band, Four Men & A Dog, who formed in Belfast in the nineties and rose to popularity across the globe. All-Ireland céili band champions, The Thatch Céili Band, pivotal members of the Irish diaspora in London, also gave an electric performance on the night.
Meath based flute player, Catherine McEvoy, admired as an exceptional and influential musician, teacher and advocate for traditional music, was awarded Irish music’s highest accolade of Musician of the Year. The accomplished concert flute player from the Sligo-Roscommon tradition joined a long list of traditional music greats such as Matt Molloy, Liam O’Flynn, Máirtín O’Connor, Frankie Gavin and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, who have all received Trad music’s top ‘Oscar’.
The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2019 recipients recognised for their talent and contribution to traditional Irish music included:
- Musician of the Year: Catherine McEvoy, accompanied by her brothers Paddy and John McEvoy, husband Tom McGorman and children Fergus, Jane and Ruarí McGorman. Presented by Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, TG4.
- Young Musician of the Year: Conor Connolly, accompanied by musical friends Andrea Palandri and Michael McCague. Presented by Joe Burke.
- Lifetime Achievement: Nicky & Anne McAuliffe, accompanied by musical friends and neighbours including Michelle O’Sullivan, Maura Walshe, Mary Crowley, John Connolly and Michael O’Shea. Presented by Donal Murphy.
- Singer of the Year: Thomas McCarthy. Presented by Ian McElhinney.
- Outstanding Contribution: Brendan Mulkere, accompanied by musical friends and family including Clare Egan, Rebecca McCarthy Kent and Paul O’Driscoll. Presented by Minister of State for Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon.
- Musical Collaboration: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, accompanied by her sister, Maighréad Ní Dhomnhnaill, and fellow members of The Bothy Band, Donal Lunny and Paddy Glackin. Presented by Brídóg Ní Bhuachalla.
The live concert was broadcast on TG4 and worldwide and is available to watch again on the TG4 Player via tg4.ie/en/player.
For more information, visit www.gradam.ie or connect with Gradam Ceoil on Facebook and Twitter @GradamCeoil, using the hashtag, #Gradam.
Ócáid den chéad scoth ag Gradaim Oscar an Cheoil Thraidisiúnta i mBéal Feirste
D’fhill Gradam Ceoil ar Bhéal Feirste aréir chun lucht leanta an cheoil thraidisiúnta don dara bliain as a chéile chun éachtaí cheoltóirí na hÉireann agus ar fud an domhain a cheiliúradh.
Bhain breis is 1,000 duine a bhí i láthair lán a súl as an oíche mhór siamsaíochta ag an cheolchoirm bheo agus an searmanas bronnta ar a dtugtar ‘gradaim Oscar an cheoil thraidisiúnta’ a bhí ar siúl i Halla Cois Cuain ar an 17 Feabhra. Thacaigh Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scaileán Tuaisceart Éireann agus Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste le Gradam Ceoil TG4 2019.
Á chur i láthair ag Doireann Glackin, láithreoir de chuid TG4 agus Dónal O’Connor, ceoltóir atá ag cur faoi i mBéal Feirste agus duine den bhanna aitheanta, Ulaid, bhí seisear ar bronnadh Gradam Ceoil 2019 orthu ar an oíche i mbun ceoil agus aíonna dá gcuid ina dteannta. I measc na ndaoine a bhronn gradaim ar an oíche bhí an t-aisteoir aitheanta a rugadh i mBéal Feirste Ian McElhinney, agus an boscadóir de scoth an domhain agus fear ar bronnadh Gradam air roimhe seo Joe Burke chomh maith leis an Aire Stáit don Diaspóra agus Forbairt Idirnáisiúnta, Ciarán Cannon.
Ba iad an banna clúiteach Four Men & A Dog – a tháinig le chéile i mBéal Feirste sna nóchaidí agus a thuill clú agus cáil ar fud an domhain – banna mór na hoíche. Chas seaimpíní bhannaí céilí na hÉireann, The Thatch Céilí Band, atá gníomhach i measc dhiaspóra na hÉireann i Londain, ar an oíche freisin.
Bronnadh an gradam is mó Ceoltóir na Bliana ar Catherine McEvoy, fliúiteadóir atá lonnaithe sa Mhí, ceoltóir den chéad scoth a bhíonn ag teagasc agus atá go láidir i mbun an cheoil a chur chun cinn. Tá an fliúiteadóir ó thraidisiún Shligigh-Ros Comáin i measc liosta fada de mhór-uaisle an cheoil thraidisiúnta ar bronnadh an gradam seo roimhe seo orthu – ina measc Matt Molloy, Liam O’Flynn, Máirtín O’Connor, Frankie Gavin agus Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh.
I measc an liosta iomlán d’fhaighteoirí Ghradam Ceoil TG4 2019, a dtugtar aitheantas dóibh dá gcumas agus as an méid a dhéanann siad ar mhaithe leis an gceol, tá:
- Ceoltóir na Bliana: Catherine McEvoy, i dteannta a deartháireacha Paddy agus John McEvoy, a fear céile Tom McGorman agus a cuid leanaí Fergus, Jane agus Ruarí McGorman. Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, TG4 a bhronn.
- Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana: Conor Connolly, in éineacht lena chairde ceoil Andrea Palandri agus Michael McCague. Joe Burke a bhronn.
- Gradam Saoil: Nicky & Anne McAuliffe in éineacht le cairde agus comharsana – Michelle O’Sullivan, Maura Walshe, Mary Crowley, John Connolly agus Michael O’Shea ina measc. Dónal Murphy a bhronn.
- Amhránaí na Bliana: Thomas McCarthy. Ian McElhinney a bhronn.
- Gradam Comaoine: Brendan Mulkere, in éineacht le cairde agus daoine muinteartha – Clare Egan, Rebecca McCarthy-Kent agus Paul O’Driscoll ina measc. Ciarán Cannon, Aire Stáit don Diaspóra agus Forbairt Idirnáisiúnta, a bhronn.
- Gradam Comharcheoil: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, in éineacht lena deirfiúr, Maighréad Ní Dhomhnaill, agus comhaltaí an Bothy Band, Donal Lunny agus Paddy Glackin. Brídóg Ní Bhuachalla a bhronn.
Craoladh an ceolchoirm beo ar TG4 agus ar fud an domhain agus tá sí fáil le breathnú arís uirthi ar sheinnteoir TG4 via tg4.ie/en/player.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, téigh chuig www.gradam.ie nó ceangail le Gradam Ceoil ar Facebook agus Twitter @GradamCeoil, ag úsáid na haischlibe , #Gradam
