Gradam Ceoil TG4
The Judges
Note from Dr. Áine Hensey – Cathaoirleach Choiste Roghnúcháin Ghradam Ceoil TG4 2026
Gradam Ceoil TG4 is a celebration of all that is true, rich and exciting about our traditional music, song and dance. I was lucky enough to be part of the first selection panel who came together in 1998, aiming to reflect the vision of the late Mary McPartlan and the new television station’s sincere commitment to our traditional arts. Tommy Peoples was the first recipient of the Gradam and, in a lovely coincidence, it was another huge honour for me to be on stage last year alongside Tommy’s daughter Siobhán, 2025’s Ceoltóír na Bliana.
As chair of the selection panel, I believe that these awards present an annual snapshot of our cherished music in all its diversity – instrumental and vocal, pure tradition and imaginative innovation, and a celebration of peerless regional styles alongside vitally important international influences. The annual work of our panel is challenging and inspiring, as we listen to many many hours of dance tunes, songs and airs, researched, arranged, composed and performed by a stunning array of brilliant players.
Gradam Ceoil is not a competition and indeed, many of those honoured over the years have never sought prizes or accolades. It is vitally important that we continue to recognise the quiet work being carried out throughout the country and further afield to preserve and promote our culture. Being awarded a Gradam Ceoil is a singular honour in the annual music calendar and the live concert is a favourite for musicians and enthusiasts alike. Gur fad buan é.
Liz Doherty
Dr. Liz Doherty is a fiddle player, educator, arts consultant and producer from Co. Donegal, Ireland.
She is the founder and director of I Teach Trad, offering training and professional development for teachers of traditional music. Her academic credentials include a PhD (Cape Breton fiddle music) and she has lectured in traditional music since 1994, at UCC and at Ulster University, Derry as well as in Canada, the US and Australia. Her teaching excellence was recognised with a National Teaching Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy in 2018. As well as a significant number of published books and papers, Liz has performed and recorded with Mícheál Ó Súillebháin and the RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Riverdance -The Show, and with bands the String Sisters, Bumblebees and Nomos; Fiddlesticks, the band she founded and directed while in UCC has recently reunited and performed at Celtic Connections, 2024. She has featured on over 20 recordings, including 2 solo releases. Liz’s work in production includes the award-winning Samhlú (TG4), and TG4’s Fleadh series (2020-). She has worked with the Arts Council (An Comhairle Ealaíon) where she introduced the Deis funding programme for traditional artists and has been a member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee (2018-2024).
Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill
Iarfhlaith is a fiddle player and documentary filmmaker from Kilcar, Co. Donegal. Iarfhlaith currently works as a Documentary Producer for South Wind Blows, producing documentary films for cinema/broadcast and music concerts and events at the Other Voices music festival in Dingle. Iarfhlaith previously worked for the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) as Finance Manager and Documentary Producer/Editor. He has since joined the ITMA Board as Treasurer. Iarfhlaith is set to release his debut album, The Devil’s Dream, with piano player Natalie Ní Chasaide in 2024.
Ellie Byrne
Ellie Byrne is one of Ireland’s most experienced and well-connected arts and music publicists, with a career spanning more than three decades in the promotion, development and management of artists and cultural events. She spent 18 years as Press and Performing Arts Manager at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, working alongside its founder and director, the late Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. In 2014, she established EB Promotions and since then, she has become a trusted communications and publicity partner for some of Ireland’s most celebrated musicians, dancers, solo artists and performing groups including clients have included Altan, Martin Hayes, Declan O’Rourke, Peggy Seeger, Edwina Guckian, Karan Casey, Irish Artists for Palestine, Kevin Burke, The Kilfenora Céilí Band and Eiriú Dance Company, among many others. Based in Kilkee, County Clare, she continues to work closely with artists and organisations across Ireland’s traditional music and performing arts sectors.
Sorcha Costello
Awarded with the Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello is a traditional Irish fiddle player from Tulla Co. Clare, from a family immersed in traditional Irish music. From a young age, Sorcha has performed nationally and internationally including tours of New Zealand, Australia and America already this year. She is also in high demand as a teacher of music, especially in her home area of East Clare because of her ability to transmit her unique style which has the trademark rhythm and swing qualities of generations of her family. Released in June 2023, Sorcha Costello’s album The Primrose Lass is a solo fiddle album which encompasses a unique variety of both old and new tunes. The style and flow of this album resembles Sorcha’s love of the old tradition, evidenced through the swing, rhythm and uncomplicated playing of tunes. Deeply rooted in the East Clare style, yet containing all her other musical influences from around the world, this album keeps the listener engaged throughout. Both accompanists on the album, John Blake (guitar + bouzouki) and Catherine McHugh (keyboard) weave their way around Sorcha’s fiddle playing to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. This debut solo album has resulted in two RTE Radio 1 Folk award nominations for Sorcha, including ‘best folk instrumentalist’ and ‘best emerging artist’ 2023.
Síle Denvir
Síle Denvir is a sean-nós singer and harpist from the Connemara Gaeltacht, deeply rooted in the Irish-language song tradition. A native Irish speaker, her ethereal style brings the ancient tradition of sean-nós singing to new audiences.
A founding member of Líadan, Síle has toured with The Chieftains and collaborated with artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí, Martin Hayes, Úna Monaghan and Barry Kerr. She has also performed with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and presented several programmes for TG4.
An academic at Dublin City University, Síle has published extensively on Irish song and combines her research with her creative practice. She was named Amhránaí na Bliana at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil and her most recent album, Anamnesis, was created with producer John Reynolds and cellist Caroline Dale.
Ryan Molloy
One of the leading figures in Irish music today, Ryan Molloy is a composer, pianist and traditional fiddler whose work brings Irish traditional music into dialogue with contemporary composition. From Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, he has forged a distinctive creative voice over more than two decades. Named TG4 Gradam Ceoil Composer of the Year 2024, Ryan has been commissioned by ensembles including RTÉ, the BBC, Danish String Quartet, the Ulster Orchestra and Irish Chamber Orchestra, and has represented Ireland at the ISCM World New Music Days festivals. His recent work includes casúir ‘s cnaipí and PIANOBOXING, while 2026 sees the completion of roscáth, a new work for violin and orchestra for Katharina Uhde, a 25th Anniversary concert with Téada and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the release of foinse, a new album with Bríd Harper. With over 30 albums to his name, Ryan has collaborated with many leading Irish traditional musicians. He is Associate Professor of Composition at Maynooth University and is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre.
Caoimhín ó Sé
Traditional music and song have always been central to Caoimhín Ó Sé’s life. Growing up in Corca Dhuibhne, they were the sounds that surrounded him from an early age. While still at primary school, he began accompanying his father, Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé, playing music in hotels and pubs throughout the area.
Years later, father and son recorded Ó Thuaidh, an album that included a number of Maidhc’s own compositions. After moving to Galway, Caoimhín spent a period performing and singing with the group Maigh Seola, whose repertoire drew deeply on Amhráin Mhuighe Seola, the celebrated collection of songs gathered in Galway and Mayo.
Caoimhín has been presenting radio programmes on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta for the past twenty-five years. He also spent several years presenting The West Wind on Clare FM.