Winners Announcement RT Radio 1 Folk Awards

Two awards for Barry Kerr

Awards also for Beoga, Macdara Yeates, Ultan O'Brien, Joshua Burnside, Rua R

President Connolly announces formal induction of Dolores Keane to the Hall of Fame and celebrates her legacy with the Keane family

Tommy Sands receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Bernadette Devlin McAliskey

Live performances from Beoga, The Unthanks, Edwina Guckian, Declan O'Rourke and many more

Celebrating the very best in folk music in Ireland

#rtefolkawards

The winners at the 8th RT Radio 1 Folk Awards were announced this evening in front of a live audience in Vicar Street, Dublin tonight, live on RT Radio 1 and the RT Listen app. Hosted by RT 's John Creedon, the Awards celebrate the very best in Irish folk music. A television highlights programme will be broadcast on RT One and RT Player on Saturday 14th November.

The winners for the 8th RT Radio 1 Folk Awards 2026 are (nominees also listed):

BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK THE CURLEW'S CRY - Barry Kerr

ANAM CARA - Clare Sands

HEAVEN HAS NO WINGS - Dove Ellis

JOHNNY WORKMAN - Rua R

THE CURLEW'S CRY - Barry Kerr

THE WIND DOESN'T BLOW THIS FAR RIGHT - Lisa O'Neill

BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK DE MAY BUSH - Macdara Yeates

AMHR N NA SCAD N - The Railway Boys

CAD SIN DON T SIN - Tr ona & Maighread N Dhomhnaill

COLERAINE JIG - Rattling Ark

DE MAY BUSH - Macdara Yeates

RYAN'S RANT - Cormac Begley & Liam O'Connor

THE MICKEY DAM - Damien Dempsey

BEST FOLK SINGER BARRY KERR

BARRY KERR

CLARE SANDS

JOSHUA BURNSIDE

LISA O'NEILL

MACDARA YEATES

BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST ULTAN O'BRIEN

CAROLINE KEANE

CIAR N MAONAIGH

JACK TALTY SE N MCKEON

ULTAN O'BRIEN

BEST FOLK GROUP BEOGA

AN CH AD GHL IN EILE

BEOGA

LEMONCELLO

POOR CREATURE

YE VAGABONDS

BEST FOLK ALBUM IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY - JOSHUA BURNSIDE

AN BHEARNA BH N - Jillian O'Malley

CAILLTE SA CHEOL - Ciar n Maonaigh

CURLEW'S CRY - Barry Kerr

ITHACA - lullahush

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OKAY - Joshua Burnside

PHASES - Beoga

BEST EMERGING ARTIST RUA R

ELLIE O'NEILL

LEEVY

RUA R

THE RAILWAY BOYS

RT RADIO 1 FOLK AWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT - TOMMY SANDS

The RT Radio 1 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement was presented by Bernadette Devlin McAliskey to one of Ireland's most celebrated folk singers, songwriters, broadcasters and social activists. - Tommy Sands.

Tommy Sands is one of Ireland's most respected folk artists, whose remarkable career has spanned music, broadcasting, writing and peace-building. First gaining international acclaim with The Sands Family, he has brought Irish traditional music to audiences around the world, while his songs, recorded by artists including Joan Baez, Pete Seeger and The Dubliners, have earned worldwide recognition for their humanity, storytelling and message of understanding. Widely regarded as an important cultural voice during Northern Ireland's peace process, Tommy's work, including the iconic There Were Roses, has helped foster dialogue and reconciliation through music. Through decades of performance, education and community engagement, he has continued to champion the power of song to connect people across generations and cultures, making him a truly deserving recipient of this special honour.

Previous honourees include D nal Lunny, Mary Black, Christy Moore and Moya Brennan.

RT RADIO 1 HALL OF FAME - DOLORES KEANE

Dolores Keane was formally inducted into the RT Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame by President Connolly at the awards event in Vicar Street. Dolores Keane, who passed away in March this year, was one of the defining voices of Irish folk and traditional music, celebrated for her rich, expressive singing and her lifelong commitment to preserving Ireland's musical heritage. In inducting Dolores Keane into the Hall of Fame, the RT Radio 1 Folk Awards will celebrate her legacy as a great ambassador and guardian of Ireland's sacred folk and traditional music traditions.

LIVE PERFORMANCES ON THE NIGHT

In what was a very special night celebrating Irish folk music, the awards featured live performances from outstanding musicians, including Beoga, The Unthanks, Declan O'Rourke, Jillian O'Malley, Joshua Burnside, Hammy Hamilton & the Ora Quartet, Kris Drever with Noriana Kennedy, Nicola Joyce and Pauline Scanlon, Edwina Guckian and more.

You can listen back to the RT Radio 1 Folk Awards on the RT Listen app, and don't forget our television highlights programme on RT One on Saturday 14th November and on RT Player.

ENDS

For information:

Neil O'Gorman, Corporate Communications Manager, RT | neil.ogorman@rte.ie

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2026/11/10/2008493/...
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