{"id":213710,"date":"2024-03-26T14:08:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T14:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/?page_id=213710"},"modified":"2026-09-08T15:29:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T14:29:25","slug":"the-judges","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/","title":{"rendered":"The Judges"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Judges<\/h2>\n
\n

Note from Dr. \u00c1ine Hensey \u2013 Cathaoirleach Choiste Roghn\u00fach\u00e1in Ghradam Ceoil TG4 2026<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s daughter Siobh\u00e1n, 2025\u2019s Ceolt\u00f3\u00edr na Bliana.<\/p>\n

As chair of the selection panel, I believe that these awards present an annual snapshot of our cherished music in all its diversity \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u00e9.<\/em>
\n <\/p>\n

\n

\n

Liz Doherty<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Dr. Liz Doherty is a fiddle player, educator, arts consultant and producer from Co. Donegal, Ireland.
\nShe 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 M\u00edche\u00e1l \u00d3 S\u00faillebh\u00e1in and the RT\u00c9 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 Samhl\u00fa (TG4), and TG4’s Fleadh series (2020-). She has worked with the Arts Council (An Comhairle Eala\u00edon) where she introduced the Deis funding programme for traditional artists and has been a member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee (2018-2024).
\n <\/p>\n

\n

Iarfhlaith \u00d3 Domhnaill<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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 N\u00ed Chasaide in 2024.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

\n

Ellie Byrne<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Ellie Byrne is one of Ireland\u2019s 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 M\u00edche\u00e1l \u00d3 S\u00failleabh\u00e1in. In 2014, she established EB Promotions and since then, she has become a trusted communications and publicity partner for some of Ireland\u2019s most celebrated musicians, dancers, solo artists and performing groups including clients have included Altan, Martin Hayes, Declan O\u2019Rourke, Peggy Seeger, Edwina Guckian, Karan Casey, Irish Artists for Palestine, Kevin Burke, The Kilfenora C\u00e9il\u00ed Band and Eiri\u00fa Dance Company, among many others. Based in Kilkee, County Clare, she continues to work closely with artists and organisations across Ireland\u2019s traditional music and performing arts sectors.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

Sorcha Costello<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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 \u2018best folk instrumentalist\u2019 and \u2018best emerging artist\u2019 2023.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

S\u00edle Denvir<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

S\u00edle Denvir is a sean-n\u00f3s 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-n\u00f3s singing to new audiences.
\nA founding member of L\u00edadan, S\u00edle has toured with The Chieftains and collaborated with artists including Liam \u00d3 Maonla\u00ed, Martin Hayes, \u00dana Monaghan and Barry Kerr. She has also performed with the RT\u00c9 National Symphony Orchestra and presented several programmes for TG4.
\nAn academic at Dublin City University, S\u00edle has published extensively on Irish song and combines her research with her creative practice. She was named Amhr\u00e1na\u00ed na Bliana at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil and her most recent album, Anamnesis, was created with producer John Reynolds and cellist Caroline Dale.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

Ryan Molloy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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 RT\u00c9, 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 cas\u00fair ‘s cnaip\u00ed and PIANOBOXING, while 2026 sees the completion of rosc\u00e1th, a new work for violin and orchestra for Katharina Uhde, a 25th Anniversary concert with T\u00e9ada and the RT\u00c9 Concert Orchestra, and the release of foinse, a new album with Br\u00edd 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.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

Caoimh\u00edn \u00f3 S\u00e9<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

Traditional music and song have always been central to Caoimh\u00edn \u00d3 S\u00e9\u2019s 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 Dain\u00edn \u00d3 S\u00e9, playing music in hotels and pubs throughout the area.
\nYears later, father and son recorded \u00d3 Thuaidh, an album that included a number of Maidhc\u2019s own compositions. After moving to Galway, Caoimh\u00edn spent a period performing and singing with the group Maigh Seola, whose repertoire drew deeply on Amhr\u00e1in Mhuighe Seola, the celebrated collection of songs gathered in Galway and Mayo.
\nCaoimh\u00edn has been presenting radio programmes on RT\u00c9 Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta for the past twenty-five years. He also spent several years presenting The West Wind on Clare FM.
\n <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Judges Note from Dr. \u00c1ine Hensey \u2013 Cathaoirleach Choiste Roghn\u00fach\u00e1in 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":876,"featured_media":0,"parent":12968,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-corporate.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Judges Note from Dr. \u00c1ine Hensey \u2013 Cathaoirleach Choiste Roghn\u00fach\u00e1in 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 […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TG4\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TG4TV\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-08T14:29:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TG4TV\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/\",\"name\":\"Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-26T14:08:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-08T14:29:25+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ie\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ie\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Other Brands\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Gradam Ceoil TG4\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"The Judges\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/\",\"name\":\"TG4\",\"description\":\"S\u00fail Eile\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ie\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4","og_description":"The Judges Note from Dr. \u00c1ine Hensey \u2013 Cathaoirleach Choiste Roghn\u00fach\u00e1in 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 […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/","og_site_name":"TG4","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TG4TV","article_modified_time":"2026-09-08T14:29:25+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@TG4TV","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/","url":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/","name":"Gradam Ceoil TG4 2024 | The Judges | TG4","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-26T14:08:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-08T14:29:25+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ie","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ie","@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Neil_Martin_1-1000x1000-1-141x141.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/the-judges\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Other Brands","item":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Gradam Ceoil TG4","item":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/other-brands\/gradam-ceoil\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"The Judges"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/","name":"TG4","description":"S\u00fail Eile","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/ga\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-ie"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/876"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213710"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":262740,"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/213710\/revisions\/262740"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tg4.ie\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}