What a homecoming. Dhá Chorn ón Oireachtas amháin! Mayo might still be celebrating the Sam, but in Camus in Conamara they were out in force last night to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Rónán Ó Conghaile who came back from Oireachtas na Samhna with not one, but two, of the most coveted prizes at the premier competitions at the annual gathering.
Rónán is a scion of the famed Ceannabháin family – muintir Micheál Mháire Ghabha agus a bhean Nóra, which features seannós singers and dancers and musicians galore – and also received the tradition from the other side of the family though his grandmother, Tess Bn Uí Chonghaile.
That’s some legacy, and it showed last weekend in Killarney. Briseann an dúchas – ach is fiú duine a thógann an chéad áit i gComórtas na bhFear agus ansin Corn Uí Riada an oíche dar gcionn! Dúirt RnaG gúrbh é am taon duine a bhuaigh Steip (damhsa) agus Corn Uí Riada i stair an tOireachtais.
Taispéantas den scoth a thug sé ar an dhá ocáid – nach ionadh go raibh siad amuigh ins na sluaite chun fáilte a chur roimhe agus Corn i ngach lámh aige.
“Táimid thar, thar a bheith bródúil as,” a dhuírt an slua – agus curtha leis go raibh “eacht bainte amach” aige. Is dócha gur lean an céilliúradh leath na hoíche.
In accepting Corn Uí Riada, Rónán said that he was thinking of the generations that went before him. It’s certain that he will raise up many of his own with the deep understanding and appreciation of seannós that was handed onto him.
If you missed the Saturday competition, here’s Rónán at the Oireachtas in 2025 – and this year. What a voice. Nár lagadh Dia é. Tá an chultúr slán.