Gradam Ceoil Awards return to Belfast in 2020
Date Posted: November 13, 2019
TG4’s Gradam Ceoil gala concert takes place in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall next February for the third year running with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
Women lead the way in this year’s Gradam Ceoil TG4 accolades, as ‘Musician of the Year’, ‘Young Musician of the Year’ and ‘Composer of the Year’ are awarded to highly-talented female musicians. Harper Laoise Kelly from Westport, Co. Mayo is announced as TG4’s ‘Musician of the Year’, and is one of the youngest recipients of the main award to date. Laoise is one of Ireland’s most significant harpers of her generation and uses a style of playing combining the techniques of fingerpads in the bass and fingernails in the melody on a thirty-four gut strung Paddy Cafferky harp. Laoise was a founding member of the traditional group Bumblebees, who recorded two albums, Bumblebees (1997) and Buzzin (1999) and who toured extensively across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US and Canada. She was also a founding member of Fiddletree, a folk group from the US, Ireland, Cape Breton and Scotland, who all play instruments made from the same tree and who have released two albums, The Fiddletree (2011) and The Unfathomable Menagerie (2013).
Fiddle and Cello player, Sharon Howley, from Kilfenora, Co. Clare has been selected as this year’s Young Musician of the Year. Sharon was immersed in traditional music from a young age with a rich musical lineage; her father sings and plays and both her grandfathers, Micky McCormack and Michael Slattery sang and played music. Her wider relations include the Mulqueeney’s and McCormack’s who played with the older formations of the Kilfenora Ceilí Band.
Lillis Ó Laoire, two time winner of the premier sean-nós singing competition Corn Uí Riada in 1991 and again in 1994 is to be awarded the title of Singer of the Year.
The other award recipients are Lifetime Achievement Award to Séamus Connolly, Outstanding Contribution Award to Nenagh’s Ned Kelly and Composer of the Year to Josephine Marsh.
Nuacht TG4 will broadcast live tonight at 7pm from the official launch of Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020. Gradam Ceoil TG4 is 23 years in existence, an awards ceremony that recognises and celebrates the cream of Irish traditional music.
The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2020 recipients reads as follows:
- Ceoltóir na Bliana/Musician of the Year: Laoise Kelly
- Ceoltóir Óg/Young Musician of the Year: Sharon Howley
- Gradam Saoil/Lifetime Achievement: Séamus Connolly
- Amhránaí na Bliana/Singer of the Year: Lillis Ó Laoire
- Gradam Comaoine/Outstanding Contribution: Ned Kelly
- Cumadóir na Bliana / Composer of the Year: Josephine Marsh
Gradam Ceoil TG4 is the premier annual traditional music awards scheme and academy. An independent panel of adjudicators selects recipients each year. It is not a competition. The Gradam Ceoil recipients are presented with a specially-commissioned piece by leading sculptor John Coll as well as a small stipend.
This year’s awards will be presented at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Concert in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on Sunday 23rd February and televised live on TG4 at 9:30pm, hosted by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin & Dónal O’Connor, the 2020 Gradam recipients will be joined in performance on stage by their own special musical guests in a unique, star-studded line-up of musicians and award-presenters.
TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, says: “Gradam Ceoil TG4 is 23 years in existence, and recognises the best of traditional Irish music, an initiative that TG4 is immensely proud of. I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners. They are the embodiment of traditional Irish music and song, and we are delighted to award them the highest honour in Irish music. Gradam Ceoil TG4 will take place in The Waterfront Hall in Belfast for the third year running, a successful collaboration with Belfast City Council, ILBF, Red Shoe Productions and TG4.”
Northern Ireland Screen’s Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Áine Walsh says: “We are delighted that the Gradam Ceoil will broadcast live from Belfast for the third year running, in 2020. As well as giving recognition to the Gradam winners this is also a fantastic platform for the talent and broad musical heritage of the North. It is also wonderful that this celebration will be seen by a worldwide audience.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane said: “Gradam Ceoil is a fantastic celebration of traditional music and is revered by music fans right across Ireland and beyond. We’re delighted to once again play host to the awards ceremony which promises to be an amazing spectacle of live performances, showcasing world class talent right here in Belfast. I want to wish all those nominated the best of luck and look forward to welcoming everyone to our city for the this great event.”
Tickets for TG4 Gradam Ceoil Awards 2020 are available now from https://www.waterfront.co.uk/what-s-on/gradam-ceoil-tg4-2020
or +442890334455
For more information see www.gradam.ie or Facebook and Twitter @GradamCeoil #Gradam
Gradam Ceoil ar ais i mBéal Feirste i 2020
Beidh Gradam Ceoil TG4, a bhfuair tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann, ag filleadh ar Halla Cois Cuain, Béal Feirste i Mí Feabhra don tríú bhliain i ndiaidh a chéile.
Is ar an gcruitire as Maigh Eo, Laoise Kelly a bhronnfar príomhghradam Ghradam Ceoil TG4 2020 ‘Ceoltóir na Bliana’. Is mór an bhrí agus an éifeacht atá léi i saol an cheoil traidisiúnta agus i saol na cruitireachta in Éirinn. Tá a stíl shainiúil féin aici agus, mar sin, is í a bhíonn ag seinm an fhoinn i ngach cuideachta ceoil a mbíonn sí páirteach leo. Bhí sí ar dhuine de na daoine a chuir tús leis an mbanna ceoil na ‘Bumblebees’, agus tá an comhar saothraithe go maith aici le cuid mhór de cheoltóirí clúiteacha an cheoil thraidisiúnta agus i stíleanna ceoil eile.
Is ar Sharon Howley as Cill Fhionnúrach, Co. an Chláir a bhronnfar Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana. Fidléir sárealaíonta aigeanta í Sharon a bhfuil athmhúnlú agus mínchóiriú déanta aici ar an gcaoi a sheinntear an veidhlín, scileanna iad seo a chuirtear i bhfeidhm ar an dordveidhil chomh maith agus tá clú agus cáil uirthi dá réir sin. Seinneann Sharon le Banna Céilí Chill Fhionnúrach agus is le gairid a thosaigh sí ar cheol a chóiriú don bhanna.
Bronnfar ‘Amhránaí na Bliana’ ar fhear na Gaeltachta, Lillis Ó Laoire. Tá Corn Uí Riada, príomhchomórtas amhránaíochta ar an sean-nós buaite ag Lillis faoi dhó, sa bhliain 1991 agus sa bhliain 1994.
Is ar Séamus Connolly as Cill Dalua, Co. an Chláir agus atá lonnaithe i Meiriceá a bhronnfar Gradam Saoil 2020, is ar an gcumadóir Josephine Marsh de bhunadh Co. na Mí agus Co. an Chláir a bhronnfar Cumadóir na Bliana, agus is ar Ned Kelly, as Aonach Úrmhumhan a bhronnfar an Gradam Comaoine.
Beidh Nuacht TG4 ag craoladh beo ó Chathair na Mart ag a 7pm ag seoladh Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020.
Tá Gradam Ceoil TG4 23 bliana ar an bhfód i mbliana, searmanas a thugann aitheantas do scoth na gceoltóirí traidisiúnta.
Seo a leanas liosta iomlán d’fhaighteoirí Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020:
- Ceoltóir na Bliana: Laoise Kelly
- Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana: Sharon Howley
- Gradam Saoil: Séamus Connolly
- Amhránaí na Bliana: Lillis Ó Laoire
- Gradam Comaoine: Ned Kelly
- Cumadóir na Bliana: Josephine Marsh
Is é Gradam Ceoil TG4 an gradam ceoil traidisiúnta is tábhachtaí dá bhfuil ann, ar gradam é a bhronntar uair sa bhliain. Is painéal moltóirí neamhspleácha a roghnaíonn na faighteoirí gach bliain. Ní comórtas atá ann. Bronntar píosa speisialta dealbhóireachta ón dealbhóir clúiteach, John Coll, mar aon le síntiús beag, ar na faighteoirí.
Is le linn mórcheolchoirme i Halla an Waterfront, Béal Feirste, an Domhnach an 23ú Feabhra a bhronnfar Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020 agus is iad Doireann Ní Ghlacáin agus Dónal O’Connor a chuirfidh an ceolchoirm i láthair. Craolfar é beo ar TG4 ag 21:30, áit a mbeidh cairde agus aíonna speisialta eile ceoil ar stáitse in éineacht le lucht na ngradam agus plúr na n-oirfideach, agus beidh réaltaí móra eile i éineacht leo leis an ócáid a chomóradh agus na gradaim á mbronnadh.
Dúirt Ard Stiúrthóir TG4, Alan Esslemont: “Fiche is a trí bliana ó shin, cuireadh tús le Gradam Ceoil TG4, gradaim trína dtugtar aitheantas do scoth an cheoil traidisiúnta. Is scéim í atá TG4 thar a bheith bródúil aisti. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le buaiteoirí na ngradam. Is léiriú cruthanta iad ar an gceol traidisiúnta, agus tá ríméad orainn i TG4 na gradaim is airde sa cheol gaelach a bhronnadh orthu. Bronnfar Gradam Ceoil TG4 2020 i Halla an Waterfront i mBéal Feirste don tríú bliain as a chéile, mar thoradh ar chomhpháirtíocht rathúil idir an Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste, TG4 agus Red Shoe Productions”
Deir Áine Walsh, ceannasaí an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge ag Northern Ireland Screen: “Tá muid iontach sásta go bhfuil Gradam Ceoil á chraoladh don tríú bhliain i ndiaidh a chéile beo ó Bhéal Feirste i 2020. Chomh maith le haitheantas a thabhairt do bhuaiteoirí an Ghradaim, tugann sé ardán iontach d’oidhreacht leathan cheoil agus do thallann an Tuaiscirt. Is iontach an rud é fosta go mbeidh deis ag lucht féachana domhanda amharc ar an cheiliúradh seo”.
Dúirt Ard-Mhéara Bhéal Feirste, an Comhairleoir John Finucane: “Is ceiliúradh den scoth ar cheol traidisiúnta é an Gradam Ceoil agus tá ardmheas ag lucht leanta an cheoil ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear air. Is mór an onóir dúinn arís gur sa Waterfront i mBéal Feirste a bheidh Gradam Ceoil TG4 i 2020, an tríú bliain as a chéile. Táim cinnte gur ócáid den scoth a bheidh san oíche ina dtabharfar ardán don tallann iontach atá ag teacht anseo ar leac an dorais chugainn. Comhghairdeas ó chroí le lucht faighte na ngradam ar fad agus táim ag súil le fáilte a chur rompu i mBéal Feirste i mí Feabhra seo chugainn”.
Tá ticéid ar fáil le ceannach do bhronnadh Ghradam Ceoil TG4 2020 ó https://www.waterfront.co.uk/what-s-on/gradam-ceoil-tg4-2020 nó ag +44(0)2890 334455.
Tá eolas breise le fáil ag www.gradam.ie, nó ar Facebook agus Twitter @GradamCeoil #Gradam
