Greystones-Based Judge Helps Select Winner Of Amhrán Na Laoch For Irish Radio

East Coast FM among radio stations backing the competition which produced a winner from County Louth

A Drogheda singer-songwriter has won Amhrán na Laoch, an Irish language song competition.

Tara Dignam, a student at BIMM Dublin, won the 2026 competition with ‘Mo Chuisle Mo Chroí’ as part of Irish Music Month and supported by An Post.

East Coast FM is one of 22 independent Irish radio stations backing the competition. The prize also includes guaranteed coverage and support from Hot Press, €2,500 in prize money, music industry mentoring, and the mixing, mastering and release of a single through the Gael Linn label.

Tara’s song was picked from a shortlist spanning a range of genres. The judging panel included Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan and the Greystones-based Fiachna Ó Braonáin of Hothouse Flowers.

Tara has built a following with a blend of indie-pop and alternative Irish folk, and has a particular passion for writing as gaeilge. She has performed recently at Whelan’s, the Sound House and McHugh’s.

Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said the standard of entries made the judges’ job very difficult, but that ‘Mo Chuisle Mo Chroí’ stood out as a favourite with everyone. “This is a marvellous achievement for an exceptional young songwriter and performer,” he said.

Orla Bradshaw, Irish Language Officer with An Post, said the company was proud to support the competition. She congratulated Tara and said the creativity and talent of all the entrants was truly inspiring.

Michael Kelly, Chief Executive of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, also congratulated the winner and welcomed the partnership with Hot Press.

Irish Music Month was launched in 2021 and is an initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, supported by Coimisiún na Meán.

Stations involved: Clare FM, Classic Hits, Cork’s 96FM, East Coast FM, FM104, Galway Bay FM, Highland Radio, KCLR, KFM, Limerick Live 95FM, LMFM, Midlands 103, MidWest Radio, Northern Sound, Ocean FM, Radio Kerry, Radio Nova, Shannonside FM, South East Radio, Sunshine FM, Tipp FM and WLR FM.

The President Catherine Connolly also offered her congratulations to the winner Tara Dignam...

“May I warmly congratulate Tara Dignam on winning Amhrán na Laoch 2026 with her song ‘Mo Chuisle Mo Chroí’.

I know that the judging panel, including Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan and Fiachna Ó Braonáin of Hothouse Flowers, were very impressed with the song and I hope that this is the start of a long and successful career for Tara singing in our native language.

May I thank Hot Press, An Post, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and all of the local radio stations participating in Irish Music Month for the immense support which they are providing for the Irish language through the Amhrán na Laoch initiative and I’m looking forward to hearing more from all of those who entered over the years ahead.”