I 1998 chuir TG4, an craoltóir teilifíse náisiúnta Ghaeilge, tús ar bhonn bliantúil le scéim nua aitheantais do cheoltóirí tradisiúnta. Bhí sé mar aidhm ag an stáisiún ‘ómós a thabhairt do laochra ceoil ár linne’, agus tá ag éirí go geal leis ó shin. Cuireann TG4 coiste ar bun gach bliain ar a mbíonn ceoltóirí, amhránaithe agus lucht teilifíse, agus is iadsan a dhéanann an cinneadh eatarthu féin faoi na buaiteoirí. Dhá ghradam a bhronntaí ar dtús, ceann do Ceoltóir na Bliana agus ceann do Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana, agus d’eagraítí ceolchoirm phoiblí ar leith mar ócáid a mbronnta. Chuaigh ranna na ngradam i líonmhaire diaidh ar ndiaidh. Ó 2001 bronnadh gradam d’Amhránaí na Bliana, do Cumadóir na Bliana agus do Banna na Bliana (nár leanadh leis), agus Gradam Saoil. Tháing ceann nua ar an bhfód i 2006: Gradam Comaoine, agus ceann eile i mbliana tar éis don ghradam do chumadóirí a bheith curtha ar ceal: Gradam Comharcheoil.

Tá grianghraif TG4 de na buaiteoiri go léir ó 1998 go 2014 bronnta ag an stáisiún ar Thaisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann, agus cead tugtha iad a chur ar fáil do chách anseo thíos. Beidh ceolchoirm phoiblí 2014 ar siúl in Ollscoil Luimnigh ar an Satharn 12 Aibreán, agus tá gach eolas faoi ar fáil anseo.

Gradam Ceoil, a new annual awards scheme designed to give recognition to traditional musicians was set up in 1998 by TG4, the national Irish-language television broadcaster, with the stated aim of doing honour to the traditional music heroes of our time. It has continued successfully since. Each year TG4 appoints a panel of musicians, singers and television makers to decide on the year’s winners. At first two awards were made, one for the Musician of the Year and one for the Young Musician of the Year, and a public concert was organised around the awards. Over time the number of award categories has increased. Since 2001 awards have been made for the Singer of the Year and Composer of the Year, and an award for Life Achievement. Band of the Year was awarded only in 2001. The Musicians’ Award was instituted in 2006, and this year an award for Musical Collaboration.

Copies of TG4’s photographs of all the award recipients have been donated by the station to the Irish Traditional Music Archive, and permission given to ITMA to present them here. This year’s public concert will be held in the University of Limerick on Saturday 12 April, and details will be found here.

Buíochas le foireann TG4, go háirithe le/ Thanks to the staff of TG4, especially to/ Bríd Ní Mhógáin, Nóirín Ní Chonghaile, Pádhraic Ó Ciardha & Pól Ó Gallchóir, agus buíochas le Cathal Goan.

Nicholas Carolan & Treasa Harkin, 1 April 2014