Ye Vagabonds Win Big At RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

Ye Vagabonds were the big winners at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards tonight, scooping three awards in the categories for Best Traditional Folk Track, Best Folk Group and Best Folk Album.

Other winners on the night included; Lisa O’Neill for Best Original Folk Track with 'Rock the Machine', Saint Sister for Best Emerging Folk Act, Zoë Conway as Best Folk Instrumentalist. Iarla Ó Lionáird was named Best Folk Singer.

President Michael D. Higgins was in attendance on the night to present Irish folk legend Moya Brennan with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her continued contribution to folk music in Ireland, both as lead singer with Clannad and as a solo artist. American singer and folk royalty, Peggy Seeger, was also present at the awards and was on hand as Margaret Barry was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott opened the awards ceremony with a very timely and poignant performance of 'North and South of the River' – a song written by Christy with Bono and The Edge of U2. Caoimhín Ó'Raghallaigh, of The Gloaming, performed a specially commissioned reflective piece on the natural sounds we are losing from our Irish soundscape.

Ye Vagabonds comprise the brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn. The boys grew up in rural Carlow, moving to Dublin in 2012. Since then they have steadily built their reputation, playing both their own original songs and traditional folk songs. Their sound is influenced by the music of the 1960s folk revival, American old-time music, European folk music and Irish folk. Their album The Hare's Lament is released on River Lea Records, an imprint of Rough Trade Records.

The awards were broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1.

Speaking on the night, Group Head of RTÉ Arts and Culture Ann Marie Power said: “A year has passed since the inaugural RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards in Vicar Street, Dublin, a really special evening, one of those "nights that feed the soul" as described by one listener. We're delighted to track the success and progress so many of last year's artists are having abroad. It's really important that they are championed here at home as well, and that is what the RTÉ Folk Awards are all about.

"Our Folk music is one of our country's greatest assets and our musicians and songwriters tell the stories of the times in which we live. The songs and tunes performed tonight are a snapshot of a certain time, encompassing the past, the present and the future. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners and to all those who performed tonight.”

Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ One television, at 11.15pm on Saturday, 26th October.

The Full Winners List

Best Original Folk Track
Rock the Machine – Lisa O’Neill

Best Emerging Folk Act
Saint Sister

Best Folk Instrumentalist
Zoë Conway

Best Traditional Folk Track
'The Foggy Dew' – Ye Vagabonds

Best Folk Singer
Iarla Ó’Lionáird

Best Folk Group
Ye Vagabonds

Best Folk Album
The Hare’s Lament – Ye Vagabonds

Lifetime Achievement Award
Moya Brennan

Hall of Fame Award
Margaret Barry