Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Something for the Weekend – Ríoghnach Connolly's Cultural Picks

Choice cultural picks from the BBC2 Folk Singer of the Year 2020, featured in Sruth, a new four-part TG4/BBC Alba Series

Something For The Weekend • 18 Feb 21

Drawing From The Well: Radie Peat's murderous ballads

The Irish Traditional Music Archive presents singer and musician Radie Peat, a member of the widely acclaimed Dublin band Lankum,.as she explores some of the dark and subversive themes found in her ballad repertoire...

Music • 10 Feb 21

Listen to Ruth Smith's epic 2020 Simply Folk playlist

Simply Folk presenter Ruth Smith has compiled a rather comprehensive playlist of music - over 400 songs! - played on the show over 2020...

Simply Folk • 05 Jan 21

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards winners announced

The recepients of the 2020 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards have been announced, with Lankum, Steve Cooney and Mick Flannery among the big winners on the evening.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 27 Nov 20

Tune Of The Week: Bare Feet on Grass by The Raines

The Raines are a folk band consisting of musicians Yvonne Tiernan, Ruth Dillion and Juliana Erkkonen. Originally formed after a meeting on Inis Oírr island off the west coast, there was instant chemistry between the band members

Tune Of The Week • 20 Nov 20

RTÉ Folk Awards: Steve Cooney to get Lifetime Achievement Award

It has been announced that guitarist Steve Cooney will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - Nuala O'Connor pays tribute to a mercurial musical talent.

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards • 12 Nov 20

Death announced of folk singer Mary McPartlan

President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to "one of Ireland's great folk singers", Mary McPartlan, whose death has been announced.

In Memoriam • 06 Apr 20

Listen: Miriam's all-star St. Patrick's Day concert

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Sunday with Miriam gathered a studio-full of Irish folk and trad music greats for a spectacular session...

Culture • 17 Mar 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

Listen: Ruth Smith's ultimate 2019 Simply Folk playlist

Simply Folk on RTÉ Radio 1 celebrates its 100th episode this weekend, and SF host Ruth Smith will be marking the occasion with a special edition featuring the tunes that gave her a passion for folk music. In the meantime, she's got a playlist for you...

RTÉ Radio 1 • 18 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

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

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

What is folk music?

Award-winning poet, writer and musician Gerard Hanberry explains all...

Irelands Favourite Folk Song • 13 Feb 19

Celebrated singer and song-collector Frank Harte.

Simply Folk Recommends: Frank Harte's And Listen to My Song

Every week, Simply Folk host Ruth Smith selects a classic record from the folk archives. This week, she's chosen And Listen to My Song by celebrated singer and song-collector Frank Harte.

Music • 25 Jul 18

Daoirí Farrell: one of the most important traditional singers to emerge in the last decade.

Trad Matters: Is Daoirí Farrell Ireland’s best kept folk secret?

Trad Matters: Daoirí Farrell has been described by legendary folk musician Dónal Lunny as one of the most important traditional singers to emerge in the last decade.

Culture • 20 Oct 16

Folk Music