The winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced in Vicar Street tonight and live on RTÉ Radio 1, in a celebration of the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year.
Capping off a remarkable run of successes, Lankum were named Best Folk Group and Best Folk Album, for their Mercury Prize and Choice Music Prize-nominated False Lankum.
with their Best Folk Album award, presented by Leon Diop (L)
Dublin-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin won the award for Best Folk Singer, with his song Anáil na hOíche named Best Folk Track.
Elsewhere, fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain landed the Best Folk Instumentalist prize, with Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige awarded Best Traditional Folk Track for their take on Seán Gabha, and sibling duo Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta sharing the Best Emerging Artist prize.
presented by Colm Mac Con Iomaire (bottom left)
Uileann piper, singer and collector Séamus Ennis was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame, with his son Christopher Ennis accepting the award on his behalf.
The Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2023 went Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, one of Ireland's leading interpreters of folk and traditional music, as well as a composer and songwriter of worldwide renown.
Commenting, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill said: "I am delighted and honoured to accept this award for my life in music. It is lovely and heartwarming to be acknowledged in such a way, and I am very grateful for this special recognition of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards."
Hosted by RTÉ presenter, John Creedon in front of a live audience and on RTÉ Radio 1, the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards offered another night to remember, with live performances from Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Bury, Bláth na hÓige, Johnny McEvoy, Rhiannon Giddens, Steve Cooney & Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich and more.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - the winners in full
BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK: Anáil na hOíche - Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK: Seán Gabha - Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige
BEST FOLK SINGER: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST: Aoife Ní Bhriain
RTÉ Director General, Kevin Bakhurst
BEST FOLK GROUP: Lankum
BEST FOLK ALBUM: False Lankum - Lankum
BEST EMERGING ARTIST: Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
RTÉ RADIO 1 FOLK AWARDS HALL OF FAME: Séamus Ennis
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
The boss checking in on us backstage 🫡
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) February 27, 2024
"This is wonderful" he says; "As they say in Clare, it's better you’re getting!"#RTEFolkAwards pic.twitter.com/3dXi0eV2xQ
Watch highlights from this year's RTÉ Irish Folk Awards on RTÉ One this Saturday, 2nd March at 11pm.
