TG4's Gradam Ceoil was set up in 1998 with the purpose of recognising the various musicians and organisations who are significant in the creation of Irish Traditional music and in developing both the music and other musicians in Ireland and around the world. It is considered the premier Traditional Irish Music Award event.
The awards are annual, given at a concert which highlights the recipients and is broadcast live on TG4. It is considered that channel's flagship event.
Judges
The judging panel is made up of experts in traditional music. It has included
Áine Hensey,
Ann Mulqueen,
Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich,
Caoimhín O Fearghail,
Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (born 28 August 1979) is a fiddler, born in Dublin, Ireland, who attended Trinity College Dublin, becoming a Scholar in Theoretical Physics (1999) and earning a First Class BA degree (as the top student of his class) in 20 ...
,
Cathal Goan
Cathal Séamus Goan (born 5 May 1954) was Director-General of RTÉ from 2003 to 2011. He also played a leading role in the launch of TG4.
Goan was born in Ardoyne, Belfast. He is an Irish language speaker. He studied Celtic studies at Universit ...
,
Ciarán Ó Gealbháin,
Claire Keville
Claire Keville is an Irish concertina and harpsichord player from Galway. She attended University College Cork to study music. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in arts, a B.Mus. and completed a H. Dip. Keville then went to the University o ...
,
Conor Byrne
Conor Byrne (died 19 April 1948) was an Irish politician and medical doctor. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1923 general election. He did not take his ...
,
Dermot McLaughlin
Diarmaid () is a
masculine given name in the Irish language, which has historically been anglicized as Jeremiah or Jeremy, names with which it is etymologically unrelated. Earlier forms of the name include Diarmit and Diarmuit. Variations of the ...
,
Fintan Vallely,
John Blake,
Kevin Crawford
Kevin Crawford (born in Birmingham, England) is an Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle and bodhrán player. He was born in England to Irish parents from Milltown Malbay, County Clare. He later moved to West Clare to improve his music and becom ...
,
Liz Doherty,
Mary Bergin
Mary Bergin (born ) is an Irish folk musician who is widely acknowledged as one of the great masters of the tin whistle. She plays in both the Irish Traditional and Baroque styles.
Biography
Mary Bergin was born in Shankill, County Dublin ...
,
Mary McPartlan
Mary McPartlan (8 January 1955 – 6 April 2020) was a traditional Irish singer and musician as well as a music director and producer.
Biography
Mary McPartlan was born in 1955 in Drumkeeran, County Leitrim. She founded folk duo Calypso i ...
,
Meaití Joe Shéamuis Ó Fátharta,
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh,
Muiris Ó Rócháin
Muiris Ó Rócháin (1944 in Dingle – 17 October 2011 in Milltown Malbay) was a teacher, director of the Willie Clancy Summer School, president of Oireachtas na Gaeilge and folk collector.
Ó Rócháin was a qualified teacher who taught mathe ...
,
Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha,
Niamh de Búrca
Niamh de Búrca, is an Irish traditional and folk singer who helped promote the use of the Irish language in music.
Biography
. De Búrca released her solo album, ''An áit a bhfuil do chroí . . .Where your heart lies'' in 2006. The album in ...
,
Pat Ahern,
Proinsias Ní Ghráinne
Proinsias is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
People
* Proinsias De Rossa (born 1940), Irish Labour Party politician
* Proinsias Mac Airt (1922–1992), Irish republican activist
* Proinsias Mac Aonghusa (1933–2003), Irish ...
,
Robbie Hannan
Robbie or Robby is a surname. It is usually encountered as a nickname or a shortened form of Robert, Rob or Robin. The name experienced a significant rise in popularity in Northern Ireland in 2003.
People Given name Robbie
*Robbie Amell (born ...
and
Úna Monaghan
Úna Monaghan is a harpist, composer, sound engineer and award-winning musician.
Biography
Úna Monaghan was born in Belfast. She graduated with a degree in astrophysics from Cambridge and a masters in sonic arts, before she went to Queen' ...
.
History
The Awards began with just two, Traditional Musician of the Year and Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and has since expanded to include six awards, all given during the annual event.
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Traditional musician of the year, Gradam Ceoil, started in 1998.
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Young traditional musician of the Year, Ceoltóir Óg, started in 1998.
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Singer of the Year, Amhránaí na Bliana, started in 2001.
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Lifetime Achievement award
Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions.
Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include:
A
* A.C. ...
, Gradam Saoil, started in 2001.
#
Composer of the year
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
, Gradam an Chumadóra, started in 2001 and presented to 2013. In 2014 a musical collaboration award was presented instead.
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Special contribution award, Gradam na gCeoltóirí, is presented to musicians and organisations that have worked tirelessly for the preservation and dissemination of Irish traditional music.
References
External links
*
Traditional music
Irish music awards
Annual television shows
Awards established in 1998
TG4
{{Music-award-stub