RTÉ has today announced the shortlist for the 7th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, celebrating the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year - view the shortlist in full below.
The winners will be announced at a special show hosted by RTÉ's John Creedon at Vicar Street, Dublin, on Wednesday 26th February, to be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1, with a television highlights programme on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Saturday 1st March.
In another strong year for Irish folk music, shortlisted artists include Christy Moore, Altan, Róis, Alannah Thornburgh, Fiach Moriarty, Damien Dempsey, Lemoncello, Joshua Burnside, Diane Cannon, The Half Room, Macdara Yeates, Lankum, Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill, Cathy Jordan, Macdara Yeates, Ríoghnach Connolly, Alannah Thornburgh, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Macdara Ó Faoláin, Sinéad McKenna, CUAS, Keane Connolly McGorman, Landless, John Spillane, Niamh Bury, Seamas Hyland and Sinéad McKenna.
In the Best Folk Album category, folk legend Christy Moore's A Teriible Beauty is shortlisted alongside Cathy Jordan's Crankie Island Song Project - Cathy Jordan, eponymous albums from Keane Connolly McGorman and Lemoncello, and John Spillane's Fíoruisce:The Legend of the Lough.
Nominated for Best Folk Singer are Cathy Jordan, Christy Moore, Macdara Yeates and Ríoghnach Connolly, while Best Emerging Artist nominees include CUAS, Niamh Bury, Róis, Seamas Hyland and Sinéad McKenna.
The Best Folk Group category features Altan alongside CUAS, Keane Connolly McGorman and Landless, and the shortlisted for Best Folk Instrumentalist are Alannah Thornburgh, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Macdara Ó Faoláin and Sinéad McKenna.
Róise Rua, a renowned singer from Árainn Mhór, Dún na nGall, will be inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night. Róise, who was also known as Róise na nAmhrán, passed on a rich heritage of folk music and preserved many songs that would otherwise have been lost, but have now travelled far beyond her home county.
The Lifetime Achievement Award winner will be announced in early February, in advance of the awards. Previous winners include Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (2023) Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).
In what promises to be a very special night celebrating Irish folk music, the awards ceremony will feature live performances from outstanding musicians such as Junior Brother, Niamh Regan, Landless, John Spillane's Folk Opera Fíoruisce plus five-time Grammy award winner, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many more. RTÉ presenter John Creedon will again host the awards ceremony in front of a live audience.
The event is open to the public and limited tickets for the night are available here.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - the shortlist
BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK
Caoine - Róis
Chasing the Hare - Alannah Thornburgh
I'm for Gallipoli - Fiach Moriarty featuring Damien Dempsey
Old Friend - Lemoncello
The Good Life - Joshua Burnside
(2024 winner: Anáil na hOíche - Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin)
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK
Bean an Fhir Ruaidh - Diane Cannon
Helen of Kirkconnel Lea - The Half Room
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye - Macdara Yeates
The Rocky Road to Dublin - Lankum
Welcome Home Gráinne - Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill
(2024 winner: Seán Gabha - Piaras Ó Lorcáin & Bláth na hÓige)
BEST FOLK SINGER
Cathy Jordan
Christy Moore
Macdara Yeates
Ríoghnach Connolly
(2024 winner: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin)
BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST
Alannah Thornburgh
Diarmuid Ó Meachair
Macdara Ó Faoláin
Sinéad McKenna
(2024 winner: Aoife Ní Bhriain)
BEST FOLK GROUP
Altan
CUAS
Keane Connolly McGorman
Landless
(2024 winner: Lankum)
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Crankie Island Song Project - Cathy Jordan
A Terrible Beauty - Christy Moore
Fíoruisce:The Legend of the Lough - John Spillane
Keane Connolly McGorman - Keane Connolly McGorman
Lemoncello - Lemoncello
(2024 winner: False Lankum - Lankum)
BEST EMERGING ARTIST
CUAS
Niamh Bury
Róis
Seamas Hyland
Sinéad McKenna
(2024 winner: Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta)
If you can't join us in Vicar Street on Wednesday 26th February, join us live on RTÉ Radio 1 at 8pm, and don't forget our television highlights programme on RTÉ One on Saturday 1st March 2025.
