Each year as part of the Ed Reavy Festival, we run the prestigious Ed Reavy International Fiddler of the Year Competition. The competition commenced in 2016 and has been held each year on the Saturday afternoon of the festival weekend, except during 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. In 2023, the U-18 Competition was won by the wonderfully talented Maebh McGlinchy from Tyrone, while the Senior 0-18 Competition was won by the gifted multi instrumentalist Adamar O’Connor.

The 2023 competition will have both a Junior (U-18) and Senior (O-18) Competition and will take place in the Town Hall Theatre, Town Hall Street, Cavan, commencing at 11am with the U-18 and continuing at 2pm with the Senior competition.

2019 Trophies

Ed Reavy-Senior Winner Perpetual-trophy – “In Memory of Martina” presented by Dermot Walsh in memory of his wife Martina

In Memory of Jim-Mulvaney Perpetual Trophy Junior Ed Reavy Fiddler Competition – presented by Maeve Sheridan in honour of her uncle

Maebh McGlinchy, Tyrone – Winner U-18 Ed Reavy International Fiddler of 2023

Adamar O’Connor – 2023 Senior Ed Reavy International Fiddler of The Year

Neil Kennedy, Donegal winner of 2022 U-18 Ed Reavy International Fiddler of the Year

Jamesie Wray, Donegal. 2019 Junior Ed Reavy Fiddler

Junior Winners 2019:
1st Jamesie Wray, 2nd Ellen O’Gorman Waterford, 3rd Órla Corrigan Monaghan

Sinead McKenna – Winner 2019-with Liam Wynne of Eirgrid and adjudicator John Daly

2019 Senior Winners:
1st Sinead McKenna Monaghan, 2nd Andrew Caden Maryland USA (right of picture) and 3rd Naoise Kettle Laoise (left of picture)

Jason McGuinness, Sligo – 2018 Senior Ed Reavy Fiddler of the year

Sarah O’Gorman – 2017 Senior Ed Reavy International Fiddler of the Year

Winner U-16 Ed Reavy International Fiddler of 2017

Méabh Smyth – The Inaugural Winner of The Senior Ed Reavy International Fiddle Player Competition in 2016