Lankum and Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin were among the big winners at last night’s RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards in Vicar Street.
The show which was broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1, with a television highlights programme to be broadcast on RTÉ One this Saturday 2nd March, was a music-filled affair with performances from Stephen James Smith, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Niamh Bury, Muireann Bradley, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Bláth na hÓige, Johnny McEvoy, Rhiannon Giddens, Seamie O’Dowd, Steve Cooney, and lifetime achievement award winner Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill of The Bothy Band.
Full disclosure: I was a judge for this year’s awards.
The awards speeches were largely delivered as Gaeilge and many of the winners spoke up in support of Palestine, and against the Genocide currently being waged by Israel in Gaza.
Lankum’s Darragh Lynch highlighted Boycott as an effective action, Bláth na hÓige also called for “Saoirse Don Phalaistín” during their performance, but most notably Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin used the first of his two awards for Best Original Folk Track to speak eloquently about the Irish government’s weak response specifically in cowtowing to the United States in calling for a ceasefire, and Joe Biden’s shielded decision-making.
Here’s his speech:
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, who is also a People Before Profit politician, and musician both solo and with Skipper’s Alley, was arrested for direct Pro-Palestine action last week in Dublin after the march.
In his second speech,Ó Ceannabháin left his last words as “Bono Is A Pox”.
Lankum won best album for False Lankum and Best Group.
with their Best Folk Album award, presented by Leon Diop of Black & Irish (L). Photo: RTE.
RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards – The winners in full
Best Original Folk Track: Anáil na hOíche – Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
Best Traditional Folk Track: Seán Gabha – Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige
Best Folk Singer: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
Best Folk Instrumentalist: Aoife Ní Bhriain
Best Folk Group: Lankum
Best Folk Album: False Lankum – Lankum
Best Emerging Artist: Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame: Séamus Ennis
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill
Full list of nominees and winners
Best original folk track
- Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan) – Emma Langford
- Winner: 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 traditional folk track
- Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach – Diane Cannon
- Eileanóir a Rún – Síle Denvir
- Eileanór na Rún – Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
- Go Dig My Grave – Lankum
- Winner: Seán Gabha – Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige
Best folk singer
- Anna Mieke
- Daoirí Farrell
- Diane Cannon
- Winner: Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
- Lisa O’Neill
- Síle Denvir
Best folk instrumentalist
- Winner: Aoife Ní Bhriain
- Diarmuid Ó Meachair
- Michael McGoldrick
- Michelle Mulcahy
- Sorcha Costello
Best folk group
- Bláth na hÓige
- Garadice
- Winner: Lankum
- Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble
- The Mary Wallopers
- ØXN
Best folk album
- All Of This Is Chance – Lisa O’Neill
- Bláth na hÓige – Bláth na hÓige
- Double You – Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch
- Winner: False Lankum – Lankum
- Look Over The Wall, See The Sky – John Francis Flynn
Best emerging artist
- Cinder Well
- Diarmuid Ó Meachair
- Niamh Bury
- Piaras Ó Lorcáin
- Winner: Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
- Sorcha Costello
