Award is a high note for Máirtín O’Connor

The TG4 Gradam Ceoil returns to Cork for a

MÁIRTÍN O’CONNOR should be having a whale of a time. “I received a commission about two years ago to write a piece for whales and dolphins,” says the influential accordion player. “The European Cetacean Society had a conference in Galway.

We were asked to perform a 20-minute suite — it was the most amazing thing; a bunch of musicians on stage at 9.30 in the morning. I feel I should get into the studio and start working on that composition as a centre-piece for a CD.”