Daragh Lynch from Lankum with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.RTÉ

Irish folk music group Lankum has been named Best Folk Group at the 2024 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards. 

Lankum, a contemporary Dublin folk band consisting of brothers Daragh and Ian Lynch, Cormac MacDiarmada, and Radie Peat, also took home the Best Folk Album award for their 2023 LP "False Lankum."

The RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, hosted by RTÉ presented John Creedon, took place in front of a live audience at Dublin's Vicar Street venue on Tuesday, February 27, and featured live performances from artists including Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Bury, Johnny McEvoy, and Rhiannon Giddens, among others.

The award ceremony was also attended by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. 

Ó Ceannabháin took home the awards for Best Folk Singer and Best Original Folk Track for his song "Anáil na hOíche" (Breath of the Night). 

Accepting the award for Best Original Folk Track, Ó Ceannabháin highlighted the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and called on the Irish Government to take stronger action. 

"I think I would be letting the people who I've been on the streets with over the past few months if I didn't use this platform to talk about Gaza," he said.

"While unfortunately ordinary Irish people have taken to the streets in massive numbers to demand action and stop the genocide we are not seeing an ounce of moral courage from the people in power." 

Wearing a keffiyeh - a symbol of Palestinian nationalism - Ó Ceannabháin also called on the Irish Government to impose sanctions on Israel and expel the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland. 

Elsewhere during the award ceremony, Aoife Ní Bhriain scooped the award for Best Folk Instrumentalist, while Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige won the award for Best Traditional Folk Track for their performance of "Seán Gabha."

Meanwhile, Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta won the Best Emerging Artist award, while Uileann piper and singer Séamus Ennis was inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame. 

Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, one of Ireland’s leading interpreters of folk and traditional music, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

"I am delighted and honored to accept this award for my life in music. It is lovely and heartwarming to be acknowledged in such a way, and I am very grateful for this special recognition of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards," Ní Dhomhnaill said. 

RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2024 nominees and winners

Best Original Folk Track:

  • Anáil na hOíche – Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (winner)
  • Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan) – Emma Langford
  • 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

Best Traditional Folk Track:

  • Seán Gabha – Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige (winner)
  • Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach – Diane Cannon
  • Eileanóir a Rún – Síle Denvir
  • Eileanór na Rún – Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
  • Go Dig My Grave – Lankum

Best Folk Singer:

  • Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (winner)
  • Anna Mieke
  • Daoirí Farrell
  • Diane Cannon
  • Lisa O’Neill
  • Síle Denvir

Best Folk Instrumentalist:

  • Aoife Ní Bhriain (winner)
  • Diarmuid Ó Meachair
  • Michael McGoldrick
  • Michelle Mulcahy
  • Sorcha Costello

Best Folk Group:

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

Best Folk Album:

  • False Lankum – Lankum (winner)
  • All Of This Is Chance – Lisa O’Neill
  • Bláth na hÓige – Bláth na hÓige
  • Double You – Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch
  • Look Over The Wall, See The Sky – John Francis Flynn

Best Emerging Artist:

  • Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta (winner)
  • Cinder Well
  • Diarmuid Ó Meachair
  • Niamh Bury
  • Piaras Ó Lorcáin
  • Sorcha Costello