The Mullan Fiddler of Oriel
The Fiddler of Oriel trophies made by Stuart Sloane from Mullan Lighting & the concept design by festival director Elizabeth McGuinness
Féile Oriel is deeply honoured and delighted to announce that Mullan Lighting will continue to sponsor the Fiddler of Oriel competition in 2024. The trophies are such immense works of art.
A solid brass body front and back, sandwiched in between is reclaimed pitch pine from the old Mullan factory, over 150 years old. The brass has been antiqued to give it an aged effect. The brass strings create a natural colour contrast. The fiddles rest on a steel plinth in the shape of the map of Monaghan. Etched into the plinth are the words and music of Patrick Kavanagh's Raglan Road.
Fiddle of Oriel Finalists o/18
Fiddle of Oriel Finalists u/18
Wow! how genrous are our sponsors Mullan Lighting ⭐
Enter the Fiddler of Oriel Competition 2024
Terms & Conditions
Entries open on the 6th January 2024 and close 17th February 2024.
The competition will have two categories; Junior (Under 18) and Senior (Over 18). It is open to all fiddlers in the Irish traditional style of playing. A minimum standard of performance skill is required (please see list of previous Fiddler Of Oriel winners to gauge an advisory standard).
Please provide a video submission by email to info@feileoriel.com with your name, DOB, address and contact details. The video must be a YouTube link (public or private, your choice). Ensure that your submission form is fully completed before submission and that you are happy with your video performance.
The video should comprise of 2 sets of tunes including a slow air played once through followed by a contrasting tune. The second set, a selection of your choice of reels, jigs, hornpipes, slides, polkas, slip jigs etc. A a total maximum duration of 6 mins.
There will be a maximum of 8 finalists in each category - 16 in total. The final 2 sets of 8 finalists will be named on our website and on our social media pages once the adjudicators have made their decisions no later than the 21st of March. Each of the finalists must commit to attending in person the finals in Monaghan town on Monday May 6th.
Canvassing anyone connected with Fiddler Of Oriel will automatically disqualify. There is no entry fee for this competition. Late entries will not be accepted. U18/O18 is determined by your birthday as of 1st of Januray 2024.
Be sure to check that a formal acknowledgement is received from Féile Oriel within 2-3 days of your submission
Please fill in submission form below
Fiddler of Oriel 2024 Adjudicators
Attracta Brady
Hailing from Killeigh in Co Offaly, Attracta is a flute, fiddle and whistle player. She learned her craft from her father, the composer and flute player John Brady.
Attracta is very heavily involved with Comhaltas and is active at all levels of the organisation from her local branch to national sub committee level. She is a past Cathaoirleach of Leinster Council and was the chairperson of the three very successful Fleadh Ceoil na hÉireanns in Tullamore in ‘07, ‘08 and ‘09.
Attracta has gained a very good reputation as a very well-rounded fiddle adjudicator and is highly respected across the trad music family.
She has several All-Ireland titles to her name both as a solo performer and member of duets, trios and céilí bands.
She enjoys teaching children the fiddle, flute and whistle and encourages all the young people to play together in sessions and concerts as well as competing at Fleadhanna
Attracta is delighted to be a part of the Fiddler of Oriel once again and is looking forward to returning to Monaghan.
Eimear Arkins
Eimear Arkins comes from a small village on the west coast of Ireland called Ruan, in County Clare. She is an award winning musician, singer and dancer with eleven solo Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann titles to her credit. Eimear has toured throughout the US, Ireland and beyond with acclaimed bands like Cherish The Ladies, Téada, The Paul Brock Band, and Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas. She is regularly seen performing with harp player and St Louis native, Eileen Gannon. Eimear has also toured extensively with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on concert tours throughout Ireland, Britain, North America and Canada and with the internationally renowned show Brú Ború. Eimear was part of the troupe that represented Ireland at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and in August 2015, she traveled to World Expo in Milan with St. Louis Irish Arts where she promoted not only Irish culture but the expression of Irish culture worldwide. Eimear is a qualified Irish music and dance instructor and has performed and given workshops at festivals all over the world including Féile Séamus Creagh, Newfoundland; Catskills Irish Arts Week; Viljandi Pärimusmuusika Festival, Estonia; St Louis Tionól; Canadian Celtic Celebration, and Festival Interceltique de Lorient, France. In June 2018 she released her debut album, What’s Next? and was awarded “Best Newcomer” from LiveIreland in 2019.