Clare’s world-renowned musical heritage will be very much to the fore at an upcoming high-profile awards ceremony.
Two of the county’s foremost proponents of traditional Irish music, namely Siobhán Peoples and Áine Hensey, will be honoured at this years Gradam Ceoil awards.
Widely considered the premier traditional Irish music event, Gradam Ceoil was established in 1998 to acknowledge those who have made a significant contribution to the tradition.
Among this year’s winners are Cathy Jordan who’s been named ‘Singer of the Year’, while Matt Cranitch has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award and Flook are the winners in the category of ‘Music Group’.
Colm Broderick is the ‘Young Musician of the Year’, Johnny Óg Connolly has been acknowledged in the ‘Composer’ category and longtime West Clare resident Áine Hensey is being celebrated for her ‘Outstanding Contribution’.
Originally from Dublin, Áine moved to Miltown Malbay in the 1980s and has worked in broadcasting in various capacities, while also playing pivotal arts administration roles in festivals such as Slógadh, Éigse Mrs Crotty and Consairtín, which she is co-director of.
Áine is now Chairperson of the Irish Traditional Music Archive and speaking on Clare FM’s Morning Focus, she credits her time in Clare FM with giving her vital skills that she’s carried with her throughout her career.
The awards will take place on Sunday May 4th at University Concert Hall in Limerick and Clare’s own Siobhán Peoples will take home the main award of the night; that of ‘Musician of the Year’.
A student of Frank Custy at Toonagh National School, Siobhán is the daughter of legendary Donegal fiddler Tommy Peoples and the granddaughter of Kitty Linnane, who was the pianist in the original Kilfenora Céilí Band.
Having lived in Ennis for many years, she’s been a stalwart of the local music scene, a driving force behind the Ennis Trad Festival and a dedicated tutor at the World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick.
In recognition of her contributions, Siobhán received the MÓRglór award in 2023, and she says her father and her musical peers were instrumental in shaping her outlook.
You can listen to the full interview here:
