Winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards announced

The winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced in Vicar Street Tuesday night (February 27) and live on RTÉ Radio 1 in a celebration of the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year.

Hosted by RTÉ presenter, John Creedon in front of a live audience and on RTÉ Radio 1, the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards was another very special night, with great live performances from Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Bury, Bláth na hÓige, Johnny McEvoy, Rhiannon Giddens, Steve Cooney & Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich, and many more.

The winners of the 6^th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were:

Best Original Folk Track: Anáil na hOíche - Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin

• Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan) - Emma Langford
• Anáil na hOíche - Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
• Glory Days - Steo Wall
• Níl Aon Easpa Orm - Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly
• Not Your Fight - The Henry Girls and Ríoghnach Connolly
• Old Note - Lisa O'Neill

Best Original Traditional Folk Track: Seán Gabha - Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige 

• Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach - Diane Cannon
• Eileanóir a Rún - Síle Denvir
• Eileanór na Rún - Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
• Go Dig My Grave – Lankum
• Seán Gabha - Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige 

Best Folk Singer: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin

• Anna Mieke
• Daoirí Farrell
• Diane Cannon
• Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
• Lisa O'Neill
• Síle Denvir

Best Folk Instrumentalist: Aoife Ní Bhriain 

• Aoife Ní Bhriain
• Diarmuid Ó Meachair
• Michael McGoldrick
• Michelle Mulcahy
• Sorcha Costello

Best Folk Group: Lankum

• Bláth na hÓige
• Garadice
• Lankum
• Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble
• The Mary Wallopers
• ØXN

Best Folk Album: False Lankum - Lankum

• All Of This Is Chance - Lisa O’Neill
• Bláth na hÓige - Bláth na hÓige
• Double You - Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch
• False Lankum - Lankum
• Look Over The Wall, See The Sky - John Francis Flynn

Best Emerging Artist: Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta

• Cinder Well
• Diarmuid Ó Meachair
• Niamh Bury
• Piaras Ó Lorcáin
• Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
• Sorcha Costello

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame: Séamus Ennis

Uileann piper, singer and collector Séamus Ennis was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame and his son Christopher Ennis accepted the award on his behalf.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill

The Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2023 was 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.”  

If you missed the awards, or you want to relive them, don’t forget to watch our television highlights programme which will air on RTÉ One at 11.00pm on Saturday March 2, 2024.