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Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi,, AKA Varo (Pic: Adrian Crowley)

Varo - Irish traditional music with a Franco-Italian flavour

Varo are Lucie Azconaga and Consuelo Nerea Breschi, a fiddle and vocal duo who perform traditional Irish songs and tunes with arrangement influences from the baroque and classical traditions.

Music • 17 Feb 20

Simply Folk host Ruth Smith (centre) in New Orleans with musical duo Rising Appalachia

Simply Folk in New Orleans - Ruth Smith's ultimate NOLA playlist

Last weekend, New Orleans was taken over by thousands of folk musicians, and RTÉ Radio 1's Simply Folk was there to be part of it all, thanks to Folk Alliance International.

Simply Folk • 01 Feb 20

Exclusive: The Wren, The Wren - watch Lisa O'Neill's new video

A special treat for Christmas - the gorgeous video by Tadhg O'Sullivan for the title track from Lisa O'Neill's new EP - her own unique take on folk standard The Wren, The Wren...

Music • 24 Dec 19

Watch: Martin Hayes & Cormac Begley at the Irish Folk Awards

Enjoy an incredible performance from this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Irish Folk Awards ceremony, as masters of folk Martin Hayes and Cormac Begley perform An Cat is a Máthair and McGrettrick's Reel live at Vicar Street.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 01 Nov 19

The Hare's Lament by Ye Vagabonds is nominated for Best Folk Album

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - listen to the Best Folk Album nominees

The nominations for Best Folk Album at this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards offer a vivid snapshot of the rude health of the contemporary Irish folk scene, showcasing many of its finest players at the top of their game.

Culture • 02 Oct 19

Seán Ó hÉanaigh and Mairi Anna Nic Ualraig, presenters of Sruth na Maoile which celebrates 25 years on air with a gala concert in Glór, Ennis on Saturday 5 October.

The ties that bind - celebrating Sruth na Maoile @ 25

Audiences in the mid-west will have the rare pleasure of a live performance from outstanding Scottish songstress Karen Matheson, lead singer with Capercaillie, as part of the Sruth na Maoile @ 25 concert in glór in Ennis on Saturday 5th October...

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. • 04 Oct 19

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards nominees (clockwise, from top left) Lisa O'Neill, The Gloaming, Daoirí Farrell, Ríoghnach Connolly, Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Inni K

Extra tickets released for RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards show

The shortlist has been announced for the 2019 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, taking place in Vicar Street on October 24th.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 22 Oct 19

Lankum's Radie Peat performs at the 2018 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards announce Vicar St. line-up

After a memorable event in 2018, the second-ever RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards will make its return to Dublin's Vicar St this October 24th, celebrating Irish folk musicians and their significant contribution to Irish culture.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 12 Sep 19

Wallis Bird performs Both Sides Now live on Strings Attached

In the second edition of Bank Holiday Monday's Strings Attached, Wallis Bird performed a breathtaking accompanied by The RTE Concert Orchestra.

Strings Attached • 04 Jun 19

Ireland's Favourite Folk Song - Pauline Scanlon tunes up

IMRO joined the lovely Pauline Scanlon at her kitchen table in Galway, to get her thoughts on folk music on behalf of RTÉ's search for Ireland's Favourite Folk Song.

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 14 May 19

Ireland's Favourite Folk Song - watch the latest episode

The two songs which feature in episode 3 are The Town I Loved So Well written by Phil Coulter and Óró Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile – a song that stems from the Jacobite song tradition of the 18th century.

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 13 May 19

Ireland's Favourite Folk Song - catch up with the latest episode

Footballer Niall Quinn champions a song celebrating London's Irish community, while comedian Eilish O'Carroll and artist Mark O'Dea discuss a song associated with the Easter Rising.

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 08 May 19

Ireland's Favourite Folk Song - watch the first episode

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 29 Apr 19

Musician and Simply Folk presenter Ruth Smith is one of the judges of Ireland's Favourite Folk Song

Ruth Smith on the new generation of Irish folk talent

The popularity of folk music has been on a steady incline over the past few years, and with it a stream of events, festivals and shows with folk at the very core.

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 07 May 19

Jolyon Jackson, one of the artists featured on 'Buntús Rince: Explorations in Irish Jazz, Fusion & Folk' (Pic courtesy of Teresa Le Jeune)

Buntús Rince - the hidden history of Irish Jazz, Fusion & Folk

Broadcaster and DJ Peter Curtin writes for Culture about his new compilation showcasing some of the unsung heroes of the Irish music scene.

Music • 18 Apr 19

Winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards revealed

Lankum, We Banjo 3 and Declan O'Rourke were among the big winners at the inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, with Tom Munnelly and John Reilly inducted into the Hall of Fame, and Andy Irvine receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 27 Oct 18

The classic '80s line-up of De Danann, with founder members Alec Finn and Frankie Gavin (pic via the latter's website)

Simply Folk Recommends: De Danann's Anthem

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a classic record from the folk music archives. This week, she's chosen Anthem by De Danann.

Music • 19 Oct 18

Lankum are nominated twice in the Best Original Folk Track category at this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - Best Original Folk Track

Have a listen to the nominees for Best Original Folk Track at this year's inaugural RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 12 Oct 18

Folk legend Andy Irvine will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards nominations announced

The nominations for the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards have been announced, along with the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 20 Sep 18

Listen to all-star RTÉ Folk Awards live on RTÉ Radio 1

This October 25th, RTÉ Radio 1 will host the inaugural RTÉ Folk Awards at Dublin's Vicar St, celebrating the first dedicated folk awards held in Ireland - the night will see the stars of folk come together under one roof.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 25 Oct 18

Simply Folk Recommends: Clannad 2 and the Donegal tradition

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a classic record from the folk archives. This week, she's chosen the second album by Irish folk legends Clannad.

Music • 07 Sep 18

Ruth Smith and John Creedon will present the inaugural Irish Folk Awards this October

Vote for the Best Folk Album of the Year

RTÉ Radio 1 has issued an open call for nominations from listeners for their favourite folk album of the last year.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 05 Sep 18

Simply Folk Recommends: A Woman's Heart beats stronger than ever

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a classic record from the folk archives. This week, she's chosen the classic compilation album A Woman's Heart.

Music • 31 Aug 18

Simply Folk Recommends: Bilingua by Eithne Ní Uallacháin

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a record from the folk music archives.This week, she's chosen Bilingua by Eithne Ní Uallacháin.

Music • 24 Aug 18

Stockton's Wing, pictured celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2017.

Simply Folk Recommends: Stockton's Wing shine a light

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a record from the folk music archives. This week, she's chosen Light in the Western Sky by Stockton's Wing.

Music • 16 Aug 18