NATIONAL: RTÉ announces folk awards shortlist

RTÉ RADIO 1 has announced the shortlist for their prestigious folk awards. 

RTÉ has today announced the shortlist for the 6th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards which will celebrate the very best in Irish folk music from the past year in Vicar Street, Dublin on Tuesday, February 27 at 7.45pm and live on RTÉ Radio 1 from 8pm.

Here is the shortlist for the 6th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards: 

BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK

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
(2022 winner: Now You See It – Susan 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
Seán Gabha – Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige
(2022 winner: Róisín Dubh – Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and the Irish Chamber Orchestra) 

BEST FOLK SINGER

Anna Mieke
Daoirí Farrell
Diane Cannon
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
Lisa O’Neill
Síle Denvir
(2022 winner: Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh) 

BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST

Aoife Ní Bhriain
Diarmuid Ó Meachair
Michael McGoldrick
Michelle Mulcahy
Sorcha Costello
(2022 winner – Cormac Begley) 

BEST FOLK GROUP

Bláth na hÓige
Garadice
Lankum
Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble
The Mary Wallopers
ØXN
(2022 winner: the olllam)  

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
False Lankum – Lankum
Look Over The Wall, See The Sky – John Francis Flynn
(2022 winner – Nine Waves – Ye Vagabonds (Pictured)) 

BEST EMERGING ARTIST

Cinder Well
Diarmuid Ó Meachair
Niamh Bury
Piaras Ó Lorcáin
Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
Sorcha Costello
(2022 winner – Cathal Ó Curráin) 

RTÉ RADIO 1 FOLK AWARDS HALL OF FAME

Uileann piper, singer and collector Séamus Ennis will also be inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night. His son Christopher Ennis will be among the guests of honour at Vicar Street on the night.

The Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2023 will be announced in early February, in advance of the awards. Previous winners are Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).