Éimhear tunes up for third Ó Riada medal bid
ROCKCHAPEL teenager Éimhear Flannery first started to play the tin -whistle when she was just two years of age when she used to get her older sister’s book containing the tunes from her music lessons and sit down on the floor and begin practising.
Her father Martin Flannery tells this story as his daughter prepares this week to take part in the prestigious Bonn Ór Seán Ó Riada final to be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta from Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel on Friday.
The competition final will be presented by RTÉ RnaG presenter Peadar Ó Riada who established the competition.
This will be Éimhear’s - who is just 15,- third appearance in the final as she first qualified for the gold medal when she was just 10 years of age. She had to play in a field with experienced musicians from all over the world.
According to Martin, the competition gives everyone fair play and no one has an advantage because of their reputation preceding them. “Every entrant puts in his or her five tunes and the judges don’t know who they’re selecting when they choose the best fifteen.”
As the competition features different instruments from year to year, Éimhear followed up her appearance with the tin whistle in 2016 by qualifying on the concertina two years ago. Her sister Caoimhe was in the final last year when it was the fiddle which took centre stage. Both sisters have won numerous all Ireland
titles in Comhaltas and Oireachtas competitions over the years and regularly perform with high profile musicians such as Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly.
“This is a great competition for musicians and Raidió na Gaeltachta, Peadar Ó Riada and the hotel take great care of the musicians,” said Martin.
The competition will be broadcast live during the Cuireadh Chun Ceoil slot, which Peadar has been presenting for more than forty years, on Friday, beginning at 7pm.