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Winners announced of 2025 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

Updated / Thursday, 27 Feb 2025 00:11
Dónal Lunny (L) was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Christy Moore (R)
Dónal Lunny (L) was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Christy Moore (R)

The winners of the seventh RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced in Vicar Street tonight and live on RTÉ Radio 1, in a lively celebration of the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year -

Ríoghnach Connolly was named Best Folk Singer, with Alannah Thornburgh awarded Best Folk Instrumentalist and Landless the winners of Best Folk Group.

Winner of the Best Folk Instrumentalist Award, Alannah Thornburgh
with Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha

The Best Original Folk Track award went to Caoine by RÓIS, with the composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and electronic artist from Fermanagh also named Best Emerging Artist.

Welcome Home, Gráinne by Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill was named Best Traditional Folk Track, with John Spillane's 'folk opera' Fíoruisce - The Legend of the Lough the winner of Best Folk Album.

Dónal Lunny was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Folk Awards by longtime collaborator and friend Christy Moore. Donal also performed with his new group, Dónal Lunny's Darkhorse, as part of the celebrations.

Lunny joins a distinguished list of Lifetime Achievement recipients that iincludes Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (2024), Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).

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Watch: Donal Lunny honoured at RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

Róise Rua, a renowned singer from Árainn Mhór, Dún na nGall, was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night. Georgina Dudgeon, a relative of Róise Rua who has been involved in promoting and celebrating her great-grand-aunt's legacy, was among the guests of honour at Vicar Street and accepted the award on her behalf.

Special guests President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina were greeted with a warm reception on the evening.

Hosted by John Creedon in front of a live audience and on RTÉ Radio 1, the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards delivered another very special night, with memorable performances from Damien Dempsey, Róis, Seamas Hyland, Pólca 4, Niamh Regan, John Spillane, plus five-time Grammy award winner, Mary Chapin Carpenter, among others.

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina, arrive at the RTÉ Folk Awards
alongside RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst and RTÉ's Cliodhna Ní Anluain.

A television highlights programme will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Saturday 1st March 2024.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - the winners in full

Best Original Folk Track - Caoine by RÓIS

Best Traditional Folk Track - Welcome Home, Gráinne by Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill

Best Folk Singer - Ríoghnach Connolly

Best Folk Instrumentalist - Alannah Thornburgh

Best Folk Group - Landless

Best Folk Album - Fíoruisce - The Legend of the Lough by John Spillane

Best Emerging Artist - RÓIS

Pics: Kinlan Photography

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