The winners of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced last night at a ceremony and live show in Vicar Street which was also broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 and Hosted by RTÉ’s John Creedon.
The awards highlights the best in folk music in Ireland from the past year.
Ye Vagabonds won the Best Folk Album award for Nine Waves, Susan O’Neill was awarded Best Original Folk Track for ‘Now You See It’, while concertina player Cormac Begley won the Best Folk Instrumentalist Award.
RTÉ Folk On One presenter Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh won Best Traditional Folk Track with her take on Róisín Dubh, performed in collaboration the Irish Chamber Orchestra and Nic Amhlaoibh was also named Best Folk Singer. Elsewhere, the olllam awarded Best Folk Group and Best Emerging Artist prize went to young Donegal multi-instrumentalist Cathal Ó Curráin.
Mary Black was a popular winner of the Lifetime Achievement award, while Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains was posthumously added to the Folk Awards’ Hall Of Fame.
The night featured live performances from Sharon Shannon, Scullion, Pauline Scanlon, Inni-K, Mary Black, Dani Larkin, Anna Mieke, Myles O’Reilly and Ronan O’Snodaigh, members of The Chieftains and Eliza & Martin Carthy.
Photos: Allen Kiely
A television highlights programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One on Saturday 19th November at 10.25pm.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards – the winners
Best Original Folk Track
Now You See It – Susan O’Neill
Best Traditional Folk Track
Róisín Dubh – Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh & the Irish Chamber Orchestra
Best Folk Singer
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Best Folk Instrumentalist
Cormac Begley
Best Folk Group
the olllam
Best Folk Album
Nine Waves – Ye Vagabonds
Best Emerging Artist
Cathal Ó Curráin
Hall of Fame
Paddy Moloney
Lifetime Achievement
Mary Black
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
