RnaG and RTÉ Concert Orchestra to stage concert in Gort an Choirce

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will stage a special concert celebrating the most loved songs of the Gaeil, songs suggested and recommended by the audience in the #AmhránRnaG campaign which featured on the Cóisir Cheoil music programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

The concert will be held in Teach Pobail Chríost Rí in Gort an Choirce in the Donegal Gaeltacht on Wednesday October 7 2026. This concert forms part of RTÉ’s centenary celebrations of public service broadcasting in Ireland, RTE100, and is one of the events associated with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

A special edition of Cóisir Cheoil featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra was broadcast live from Studio 1 in Donnybrook yesterday afternoon, where Dónall Mac Ruairí announced both the concert and the countdown from 10 to 1 of the 40 favourite songs chosen by Irish speakers.

To give listeners a taste of what will be heard at the October concert, some of the country's most talented young musicians performed three songs from the list, live on the programme, accompanied by the orchestra.

The audience was captivated by Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich, the West Kerry Gaeltacht accordionist and singer, who sang a moving rendition of Bruach na Carraige Báine in memory of her father, Séamus Ó Beaglaoich. Sisters Máire and Étáin Ní Churraoin from the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht in Meath performed Óró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile, and traditional sean-nós singer Piaras Ó Lorcáin from Crossmaglen, Armagh sang Seán Gabha, accompanied by Máire, Étáin and Méabh. Each of the singers are part of Bláth na hÓige, a supergroup that brought together a new generation of some of Ireland's most talented young sean-nós singers and musicians from different Gaeltacht regions around the country.

The Amhrán RnaG – An tAmhrán is Ansa Linn campaign on Cóisir Cheoil has been seeking listeners' suggestions over the last month to create a list of the most-loved 40 Irish language songs.

A panel of judges, all experts in Irish music from all around the country, reviewed hundreds of submissions to create the top 40. After extensive consideration and discussion, the songs were selected through an impartial scoring system. On the judging panel was: Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Colm Mac an Iomaire, Síle Denvir, Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, Áine Hensey, Ciarán Ó Gealbháin and Aoife Ní Fhearraigh.

Gearóid Mac Donncha, Ceannaire of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, said: "Songs and singers have been heard on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta since the station was founded in 1972, and they form part of the soundtrack of the Gaeltacht and the Irish language. Through this very special project, we want to draw attention to those songs and singers, to the richness we possess as a community, to celebrate the talent among us, and to honour those who are no longer with us but who have left their mark on the music and on the people. As part of RTÉ 100, people at home and abroad have had the opportunity to nominate their favourite songs. With the help of the judges who reviewed the nominations, the singers and musicians and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, this special concert will give us the opportunity to celebrate these songs once again."

Tickets for the Amhrán RnaG – An tAmhrán is Ansa Linn concert are now on sale on the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Eventbrite page.

Listen to Cóisir Cheoil, presented by Dónall Mac Ruairí every Monday – Thursday from 3-5pm on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.