It was another spectacular evening for Irish music as the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards got underway at Dublin’s Vicar Street. Since these awards launched in 2018, they have consistently highlighted the vibrant folk scene in Ireland, and last night was no exception.
The evening was hosted by RTÉ’s John Creedon and broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1; the night featured live performances from Sharon Shannon, Scullion, Pauline Scanlon, Inni-K, Mary Black, members of The Chieftains, Eliza and Martin Carthy and more. A television highlights programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One on Saturday 19th November at 10.25 pm.
This year’s awards saw Ye Vagabonds once more pick up Best Folk Album for Nine Waves, their follow-up to 2019’s The Hare’s Lament, which also won Best Folk Album that year. In our review of Nine Waves, David Weir’s conclusion was ratified: “Ye Vagabonds prove once again to be at the forefront of an ever-evolving, flourishing Irish folk scene and have done so in the most understated and inspired fashion imaginable.”
Ye Vagabonds have toured with Cormac Begley, another winner of the night who picked up Best Folk Instrumentalist. I would have loved to have seen that tour as the onstage rivalry between them sounded quite something, as Brían and Diarmuid MacGloinn of Ye Vagabonds told us earlier this year in an in-depth interview:
The stage craic between us was different to how it is with me and Diarmuid. There became this kind of a rivalry between us; we’d be constantly setting up each other for good opportunities to rip the other, especially as the tour went on. It’s more than just the music with Cormac; he’s a devil.
Cormac released his second solo album, ‘B‘ earlier this year, on which he set out to explore the sound potentials of the Bass and Baritone concertina range.
Susan O’Neill was awarded Best Original Folk Track for ‘Now You See It‘. Seeing as she won Best Original Track for her duet with Mick Flannery on Chain Reaction last year, it’s clear that her songwriting is held in high regard. She’s been something of an in-demand collaborator – as well as Mick Flannery; she also collaborated with Clare Sands on her EP and album and with Sharon Shannon last year in concert at the Dublin National Concert Hall.
The Best Traditional Folk Track went to Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, who’s also the presenter for RTÉ’s Folk On One. She won the award for Róisín Dubh from her “Róisín ReImagined” project with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, featuring celebrated soloists Dónal O’Connor, Mick O’Brien, Aisling Ennis, Cormac McCarthy and Caitríona Frost. She also won Best Folk Singer, a well-deserved accolade. If you are unfamiliar with Muireann’s previous projects, then make sure you also listen to Thar Toinn / Seaborne, a sea-themed project that was equally spellbinding.
The Best Folk Group went to the olllam, featuring legendary Belfast piper John McSherry alongside fellow piper/whistler Tyler Duncan and Michael Shimmin & Joe Dart. They returned this year with their long-awaited second album, elllegy, on which they continue their exploration of the underbelly of Irish music. They released their self-titled debut in 2014 (reviewed here), which Folk Radio described as “…a stunner that works on every level, the writing, the musicianship, the arrangements and ultimately the listening experience. With its roots in the jigs and reels of the Irish, this is music that knows no boundaries, not even the width of the Atlantic Ocean.”
The Best Emerging Artist prize went to young Donegal multi-instrumentalist Cathal Ó Curráin. He hails from a family best known for their singing. He has featured on albums with The High Seas, The Conifers, The Friel Sisters and Aoife Scott and earlier this year, he released his debut album Cosán Ceoil.
Here he is performing Four Mile Stone & Farewell to Erin with Megan Nic Fhionnghaile:
Mary Black (main image) was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award, while Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains was posthumously added to the Folk Awards’ Hall Of Fame.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 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