Offaly musician to compete in prestigious traditional music competition

Offaly accordion player and multi-instrumentalist Ademar O'Connor will hope for gold medal honours when he competes in the Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir competition at the Rochestown Park Hotel Cork on Friday evening.

Hailing from the townland of Ballygibbon (near Edenderry), O'Connor is one of thirteen participants in the a prestigious traditional music competition that focuses on a different instrument every year over a four-year cycle.

This year focuses on metal reed instruments including the accordion, concertina, and harmonica.

From a musical family, O'Connor joined the Edenderry Comhaltas along with his two brothers at a young age. Ademar plays several instruments and has racked up medals and prizes over the years. He has won an astonishing 23 All Ireland titles, and one of his proudest moments was winning the senior fiddle competition at Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireann, having won the 'Fiddler of London' prize some time earlier.

The Midlands will have additional representation with Caomhan MacGabhann from Ballynacarrigy in County Westmeath a finalist in the concertina section.

The winner of the competition will be presented with a bespoke gold medal designed by Niamh Utsch, and a cash prize of €2,500.

The competition has been running since 2010 and is renowned for attracting a large number of talented musicians from Ireland and overseas. Organised by Raidió na Gaeltachta Cuireadh Chun Ceoil presenter Peadar O Riada, this year’s judges are the renowned concertina player Mary McNamara and accordion players Johnny Óg Connolly and Danny O Mahony

The Seán O Riada Bonn Óir competition will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on Cuireadh Chun Ceoil, presented by Peadar Ó Riada from 7pm.

The competition will also be streamed live on Facebook @rternag.