Éanna to compete for Ó Riada Gold Medal

Meath piper Éanna Ó Cróinín will be amongst those taking to the stage to compete for the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal in a concert to be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Friday 3rd February. The concert will also be webcast on www.cuireadhchunceoil.ie .

Éanna is from the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht. He was surrounded by music growing up, and was greatly influenced by musicians and singers in his local area. He started playing pipes at the age of 10, and was tutored by his godfather Nollag Mac Cárthaigh in the Pipers Club in Dublin. He won first prize on the pipes at the Fleadh Cheoil in 2003, 2005 and 2011. He also won the Oireachtas prize in 2005 and 2007. Éanna received an MA in Irish Music Performance from University of Limerick in 2010.

Éanna will be one of 14 musicians in the final, both pipers and harpists, who will be performing at the concert in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork. One musician in each instrumental category will win the Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal, and they will share a cash prize of €2500.

The event will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, presented by Peadar Ó Riada on his Cuireadh chun Ceoil show from 7 pm on Friday 3rd February. Listeners can tune in live or can go to www.rte.ie/rnag to listen live or listen back.