Donegal shine on a special night at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

Donegal had a night to remember as the winners of the seventh RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced in Vicar Street in a celebration of the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year.

Welcome Home, by Gráinne by Natalie Ní Chasaide and Iarfhlaith Ó Domhnaill from Kilcar won Best Traditional Folk Track, where Meenlaragh native Diane Cannon’s Bean an Fhir Ruaidh was also nominated.

Róise Rua, a renowned singer from Árainn Mhór, was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame, while Dónal Lunny, whose mother Mary Rogers hailed from Rann na Feirste, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards by Christy Moore. Altan were also nominated for Best Folk Act.

Hosted by RTÉ presenter, John Creedon in front of a live audience and on RTÉ Radio 1, the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards delivered another very special night, with great live performances from Damien Dempsey, Róis, Seamas Hyland, Pólca 4, Niamh Regan, John Spillane, plus five-time Grammy award winner, Mary Chapin Carpenter, among others.

Georgina Dudgeon, a relative of Róise Rua who has been involved in promoting and celebrating her great-grand-aunt’s legacy, was among the guests of honour at Vicar Street and accepted the award on her behalf. Róise Rua - or Róise na nAmhrán - was born in 1879 in Sheshkinarone, near Dungloe, and married Antain Gallagher, An Búistéir, before moving back to the island.

Dónal Lunny also performed with his new group, Dónal Lunny’s Darkhorse, as part of the celebrations of his award. He is one of the most significant figures in folk and traditional music ever to come out of Ireland. His influence as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer has shaped the sound of Irish music for more than half a century.

Head of RTÉ Radio 1 and Member of the 2025 Folk Awards Steering Committee, Peter Woods said: “With the change between The Raggle Taggle Gypsy and Tabhair dom do Lámh on the Prosperous album and the opening chords of the Kesh Jig on the first Bothy Band recording, Dónal Lunny announced and was central to a shift of gear in Irish music. He defined much of the music of a generation at a time when traditional music was not mainstream and was almost subversive.

“His contribution to that music through Planxty, to Moving Hearts, Mozaik and of course the Bothies and beyond, sits alongside a career as a producer and collaborator across genres and as a true innovator. Dónal has done this without losing sight of the integrity of the music. What he has turned his hand to he has enhanced. It is a real honour for RTÉ Radio 1 to be associated with this award.”

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The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually by the Executive Steering Committee of the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards to a living artist who has made a significant contribution to Irish folk music over many years. As this year’s recipient, Dónal joins a distinguished list of Lifetime Achievement recipients, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (2024), Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).