Enya's 1988 album "Watermark" has been chosen as the 2025 RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album, in association with IMRO and IRMA.
“I am delighted to win the RTÉ Choice Music Classic Album Prize," Donegal native Enya, real name Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, said.
"'Watermark' has a special place in my heart – it was my second album and really launched my career internationally.
"It is wonderful that people are still discovering it today and it’s an honour to be chosen for this prize recognising Irish music."
The cover of Enya's 1988 album "Watermark."
The RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album celebrates the cultural and artistic impact of a body of work by an Irish artist, band, or collective that was released to the general public as an album at least 25 years prior to the year for which it is being awarded. The Album must be a minimum of seven separate compositions OR a minimum of 30 minutes of music. The Album must be composed predominantly of original compositions. Greatest Hits / Compilation Albums (a selection of recordings drawn predominantly from an Artist’s previous Album releases) are not eligible.
The RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album prize will be presented during the RTÉ Choice Music Prize live event at Dublin's Vicar Street on Thursday, March 6, which will be broadcast on RTÉ 2FM in a special four-hour extended show with Beta Da Silva from 7-11 pm.
That night, the winning Irish Album of the Year 2024 will also be announced, as will Irish Artist of the Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist. The Irish Song of the Year 2024 will be announced by Tracy Clifford on her 2FM show on the day of the live event and presented to the winner in Vicar St that night.
A special TV show will be broadcast on March 13 at 10:35 pm on RTÉ2.
While the RTÉ Choice Music Prize is marking its 20th anniversary this year, Enya's "Watermark" is only the third album to be named the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album - it follows Sinéad O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" in 2023, and U2's "Achtung Baby" in 2024.
Facing stiff competition, Enya's "Watermark" was selected as this year's RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album following lengthy deliberation by the judging panel.
Lauren Murphy, Arts and Culture Journalist; John Connolly, Author and presenter of From ABC to XTC on RTE Gold; Louise Duffy, Music Presenter, RTE Radio 1; and Harry Martin, Director Domino Records all served on the panel, while radio producer Paul Russell, formerly of RTÉ 2FM, was the panel's chairperson.
"Not only is Enya’s second record a remarkable piece of work for its time, but it has endured across the 37 years since its release and continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians to this day," the panel said on Thursday.
"Alongside her producer and arranger Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan, Enya essentially pioneered a new genre of music with 'Watermark,' blending her traditional Irish background with elements of ambient, world, choral, and pop music and her innovative layered vocal technique that can be heard on songs like 'Storms in Africa,' 'Cursum Perficio,' and of course, the iconic 'Orinoco Flow.'
"It was commercially successful on a global scale, yet the panel agreed that Enya is often underestimated or perhaps misunderstood by many.
"It felt like an apt opportunity to acknowledge her visionary work as both a vocalist and a musician – and 'Watermark,' in all its strange, evocative beauty, comprehensively fulfils the criteria for a ‘classic album.'"
Enya. (Getty Images)
About Enya's album "Watermark"
"Watermark" was released on September 19, 1988, on Warner Music UK (Geffen worldwide).
Signed by Rob Dickins, who was head of the label at the time, 26-year-old Enya was given full creative control and artistic freedom. The writing and recording of the album continued her long-term collaboration with manager, arranger, and producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan.
Initially recorded in Dublin, it was re-recorded digitally in Orinoco Studios in London. “Orinoco Flow," the album’s global hit, was the final song written for the album.
"Watermark" was an unexpected commercial success and propelled Donegal native Enya to global fame. It became a quadruple Platinum-selling album in the UK, where it reached number five on the albums chart, and in the US, where it reached number 25 on the Billboard 200.
It has sold more than 8.5 million physical copies worldwide and has clocked up over 560 million Spotify streams.
Today, Enya is Ireland’s best-selling solo Irish artist with over 80 million physical album sales.
Enya in 1991. (RollingNews.ie)
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