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 Ann Mulqueen is an Irish sean-nós singer and performer, popular as a ballad singer in the 1960s. Biography Ann Mulqueen was born in Castleconnell, County Limerick in the 1940s. She said her grandmother Bridget Mulqueen of Clare taught her t ...

, Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, Caoimhín O Fearghail,

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 2001. He is known for d ...

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 University ...

Ciarán Ó Gealbháin Ciarán ( Irish spelling) or Ciaran (Scottish Gaelic spelling) is a traditionally male given name of Irish origin. It means "little dark one" or "little dark-haired one", produced by appending a diminutive suffix to ''ciar'' ("black", "dark") ...

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, 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 bec ...

Liz Doherty Liz Doherty is an Irish fiddler based in County Donegal who also recorded and toured with both '' Nomos'' and '' The Bumblebees'' as well as alone. Biography Liz Doherty was born in Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland in 1970, the oldest daughte ...

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 Dubli ...

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 in th ...

, Meaití Joe Shéamuis Ó Fátharta,

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (born 1978) is a musician and singer from County Kerry, Ireland. Until 2016, she was the lead singer for the traditional music group Danú, and from that year on she has been half of the electronica duo Aeons. Biography ...

, Muiris Ó Rócháin, Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha,

Niamh de Búrca Niamh (; from Old Irish ) is an Irish feminine given name (meaning "bright" or "radiant"), anglicised as Neve, Nieve, Neave, Neavh or Neeve. In Irish mythology, Niamh is the daughter of the god of the sea, Manannán mac Lir and one of the quee ...

, Pat Ahern, Proinsias Ní Ghráinne, Robbie Hannan and Úna Monaghan.

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. # Traditional Musician of the Year (Gradam Ceoil), started in 1998. # Young Traditional Musician of the Year (Ceoltóir Óg), started in 1998. # Singer of the Year (Amhránaí na Bliana), started in 2001. #

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. # 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 1990s in Irish music 2000s in Irish music 2010s in Irish music 2020s in Irish music 1998 establishments in Ireland {{Music-award-stub