'Roots Freeway' banjo competition: the winners

The 'Roots Freeway' team report:

On the final 'Roots Freeway' in the current series on RTE Radio One on Saturday night, Niall Toner announced the winners of the banjo competition. The 5-string banjo was won by Jimmy O'Regan of Tralee, Co. Kerry, and the tenor banjo was won by Pamela Williams of Tallaght in Dublin. There was an absolutely humongous amount of correct answers, and the judges had a fearsome task in choosing winners. A panel comprising presenter Dave Fanning, Head of Radio Ana Leddy, and producer Aidan Butler, made the final decision. These handmade Clareen banjos will be presented to the winners on the Friday night of the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival which runs from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 September.

Our sincere thanks goes out to all those who went to the trouble of researching the answers and entering our competition, and, of course, also to Tom Cussen of Clareen banjos in Clarinbridge, Co. Galway, for his generous contribution of the two wonderful instruments. 'Roots Freeway', presented by Niall Toner, will return to RTE Radio One with a new series on 4 December 2010.