O’Laoire was raised in a bilingual family and spoke both Irish and English at home. He learned traditional songs in school, but his interest in singing truly began during his time at NUI Galway, where he studied Irish and took classes with celticist Breandán Ó Madagáin. Ó Madagáin taught Irish poetry and texts in relation to music, and O’Laoire became interested in this connection through him. He started publicly singing in competitions at NUI Galway, organised by the Irish language society at the time and in 1986, began competing at the fleadh ceoil. In 1991 and again in 1994, he won the prestigious Corn Uí Riada singing competition at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge.
Fiddle and Cello player, Sharon Howley, from Kilfenora, Co. Clare has been selected as this year’s Young Musician of the Year.  Sharon was immersed in traditional music from a young age with a rich musical lineage; her father sings and plays and both her grandfathers, Micky McCormack and Michael Slattery sang and played music. Her wider relations include the Mulqueeney’s and McCormack’s who played with the older formations of the Kilfenora Ceilí Band.

The other award recipients are Lifetime Achievement Award to Séamus Connolly, Outstanding Contribution Award to Nenagh’s Ned Kelly and Composer of the Year to Josephine Marsh.  
Gradam Ceoil TG4 is 23 years in existence, an awards ceremony that recognises and celebrates the cream of Irish traditional music.

The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2020 recipients reads as follows:

Ceoltóir na Bliana/Musician of the Year: Laoise Kelly 

Ceoltóir Óg/Young Musician of the Year: Sharon Howley 

Gradam Saoil/Lifetime Achievement: Séamus Connolly 

Amhránaí na Bliana/Singer of the Year: Lillis Ó Laoire 

Gradam Comaoine/Outstanding Contribution: Ned Kelly 

Cumadóir na Bliana / Composer of the Year: Josephine Marsh 

Gradam Ceoil TG4 is the premier annual traditional music awards scheme and academy.  An independent panel of adjudicators select recipients each year.  It is not a competition.  The Gradam Ceoil recipients are presented with a specially-commissioned piece by leading sculptor John Coll as well as a small stipend.

This year’s awards will be presented at the Gradam Ceoil TG4 concert in the Waterfront Hall, Belfast on Sunday 23rd February and televised live on TG4 at 9:30pm, hosted by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin & Dónal O’Connor, the 2020 Gradam recipients will be joined in performance on stage by their own special musical guests in a unique, star-studded line-up of musicians and award-presenters.

TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, says: “Gradam Ceoil TG4 is 23 years in existence, and recognises the best of traditional Irish music, an initiative that TG4 is immensely proud of.  I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners.  They are the embodiment of traditional Irish music and song, and we are delighted to award them the highest honour in Irish music.  Gradam Ceoil TG4 will take place in The Waterfront Hall in Belfast for the third year running, a successful collaboration with Belfast City Council, ILBF, Red Shoe Productions and TG4.”

Northern Ireland Screen’s Head of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Áine Walsh says: “We are delighted that Gradam Ceoil will broadcast live from Belfast for the third year running, in 2020.  As well as giving recognition to the Gradam winners this is also a fantastic platform for the talent and broad musical heritage of the North.  It is also wonderful that this celebration will be seen by a worldwide audience.”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane said: “Gradam Ceoil is a fantastic celebration of traditional music and is revered by music fans right across Ireland and beyond. We’re delighted to once again play host to the awards ceremony which promises to be an amazing spectacle of live performances, showcasing world class talent right here in Belfast. I want to wish all those nominated the best of luck and look forward to welcoming everyone to our city for the this great event.”