This year’s winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards
The live event in Vicar Street gave out awards for Irish folk music for the seventh time last night.
Presented by John Creedon with performances on the night from Damien Dempsey, Róis, Seamas Hyland, Pólca 4, Niamh Regan, John Spillane, plus five-time Grammy award winner, Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Donal Lunny was given a lifetime achievement award, presented by his close collaborator Christy Moore.
Róise Rua, a renowned singer from Donegal was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night.
A television highlights programme of the show will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Saturday 1st March.
Róis, the Fermanagh composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and electronic artist, who released the brilliant EP Mo Léan that placed highly on my Irish albums of the year. in 2024, won best original folk track and best new artist..
“I’m delighted to even be nominated for the folk awards never mind winning two!,” RÓIS says. “To be making music and in the room at Vicar Street with such heroes of mine in the traditional and alternative field was a privilege. The tradition is going nowhere, and it continues to proper and evolve thanks to the traditionalists that are open to it, and the experimentalists that respect the tradition.
I want to give thanks to my family for bringing me into the world of the tradition and song. To my brother, Barry, for pushing me to get this album out. To my friends for always believing in me and providing me love in order to grow. And everyone who has heard my music and decided to help out in tremendous ways. The music business as we all know is tough, but I’m reminded every day of peoples willing kindness to GIVE and LOVE immensely for something they believe in. That I have the utmost gratitude. Agus go raibh míle maith agat as an bhean chaointe.”
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards – the shortlist
BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK
Caoine – Róis
Chasing the Hare – Alannah Thornburgh
I’m for Gallipoli – Fiach Moriarty featuring Damien Dempsey
Old Friend – Lemoncello
The Good Life – Joshua Burnside
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK
Bean an Fhir Ruaidh – Diane Cannon
Helen of Kirkconnel Lea – The Half Room
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye – Macdara Yeates
The Rocky Road to Dublin – Lankum
Welcome Home Gráinne – Natalie Ní Chasaide & Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill – winner
BEST FOLK SINGER
Cathy Jordan
Christy Moore
Macdara Yeates
Ríoghnach Connolly – winner
BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST
Alannah Thornburgh – winner
Diarmuid Ó Meachair
Macdara Ó Faoláin
Sinéad McKenna
BEST FOLK GROUP
Altan
CUAS
Keane Connolly McGorman
Landless – winner
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Crankie Island Song Project – Cathy Jordan
A Terrible Beauty – Christy Moore
Fíoruisce:The Legend of the Lough – John Spillane – winner
Keane Connolly McGorman – Keane Connolly McGorman
Lemoncello – Lemoncello
BEST EMERGING ARTIST
CUAS
Niamh Bury
RÓIS – winner
Seamas Hyland
Sinéad McKenna
