The jewel of the night, and the winners of the 2025 Siansa Gael Linn Championship, are the group ‘Seoda’ from Co. Mayo and Co. Sligo!
‘Seoda’ won the grand prize while competing against seven other groups in the traditional music final at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Sunday, 23 March. The group was presented with the Gael Linn Trophy and a cheque for €2,500.
The Siansa Gael Linn competition is one of the country’s leading music and singing competitions, fostering a close connection between the Irish language, music and youth. The competition was established in 2001, and is run with the support of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Irish Music Magazine and Molscéal TG4. Gael Linn is extremely proud of the standard of the musicians and the competition.
Molscéal was live streaming the concert on Facebook (link here) and on Gael Linn’s YouTube channel (link here). Each group, ‘Streancán’, Longford, ‘Athbheochan’, Dublin, ‘Beomhar’, Laois and Uibh Fhaillí, ‘Sáile’, Donegal, ‘Loinnir’, Limerick, ‘Stranach’, Wexford, ‘Teorainn’, Cork and Kerry, and ‘Seoda’, Mayo and Sligo, were excited to have the opportunity to play in the National Concert Hall in front of a great crowd of 1,000 people.
There was fierce competition between them for the €4,500 prize fund and it fell to renowned musicians Edel Fox, Dónal O’Connor and Bernadette Nic Gabhann to choose the winners of this year’s competition. There was much celebration among their supporters when it was announced that ‘Seoda’ from Co. Mayo and Co. Sligo took home the top prize. The group consists of eight young musicians – Niamh Ní Dhochartaigh, Aoife Nic Pháidín, Aoife Ní Shearraigh, Hannah Pittendrigh, Kellie Ní Mhóráin, Piaras Mac Céide, Oisín Ó Domhnaill and Noel de Faoite.
Second place went to Limerick and €1,250 was awarded to Liam Mac Gibbúin, Louis Ó Murchú, Marcus Ó Murchú, Páidí Mac Gormáin, Orlaith de Barra, Serena de Paor, Tove Byers and Emma Sinéad Ní Choileáin, members of the group ‘Loinnir’.
Third place, and a prize of €750, went to Wexford to Lily Ní Cheallaigh, Evan Ó Grádaigh, Tomás Ó Murchú, Florence Ní Dhonnchú, Gracie Ní Chuinneagáin, Billy Ó Cuinneagáin, Ciara Ní Choilféir and Róisín de Bhál from the group ‘Stranach’.
In addition, Gael Linn Chairman Wayne Mac Feilimí presented a commemorative award to each musician who took part in the Competition.
The evening was presented for the first time this year by Tristan Rosenstock, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, following the retirement of Aine Hensey last year, and the station broadcast live on the radio again this year.
We are delighted to be able to support this competition and these young musicians. We serve the same community, Gael Linn, Irish Music Magazine and Molscéal and we are stronger together.Gearóid Mac Donncha, Head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Gael Linn CEO Réamonn Ó Ciaráin thanked Gearóid Mac Donncha for the continued support of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Tristan Rosenstock for presenting the evening, Robert Heuston from Irish Music Magazine, Molscéal TG4, the three judges, the National Concert Hall and the Gael Linn team.
We had a musical feast again this year at the Gael Linn Siansa Championship. Traditional music is not in danger and the Irish language is not in danger with this young generation emerging. This national competition is in line with Gael Linn’s core values, with Gael Linn’s tradition, and with Gael Linn’s mission. Reamonn Ó Ciaráin, Chief Executive of Gael Linn
The performances of all the groups that took part in the 2025 Gael Linn Siansa Championship can be viewed on Gael Linn’s YouTube!