President Catherine Connolly has formally congratulated Shimmer Boy – the moniker under which the outstanding musician Aaron O’Sullivan now trades – on becoming A New Local Hero winner for 2026.

“As President of Ireland, may I congratulate Shimmer Boy, representing Cork’s 96fm, on winning the 2026 A New Local Hero Award,” the President said. "I hope that the opportunity which this award will bring him will help Shimmer Boy to build on the success of his debut album In the Aftermath, We Bloom as he embarks on what I hope will be a long and rewarding career as a musician.”

A New Local Hero is a part of Irish Music Month, an initiative of Hot Press and the IBI, which is supported by Coimisiún na Meán, under its Sound & Vision scheme and involves 21 local and regional radio stations, covering every blade of grass in the country

"May I once again thank Hot Press, Coimisiún na Meán and all of the 21 local and regional radio stations who are supporting Irish Music Month and have participated in the A New Local Hero competition this year, for their continued support for Irish musicians,” the President added.

"May I further congratulate all those who entered this year’s competition and in particular the other five finalists Groev (representing Galway Bay FM), Rebecca Lane (representing FM104), RunTheRed (representing LMFM), Sitting Room (representing KFM) and WineMom (representing Radio Nova).

"I look forward to the upcoming announcement of the winner of the Irish language song competition Amhrán na Laoch as part of the continuing Irish Music Month activities.”

The winner of Amhrán na Laoch will be announced over the coming week.