Christy Moore to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at next week's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards

Music
10 Nov 21

Christy Moore live by Cathal Dawson.

"To receive this award from my peers is a great honour, one that I will remember and cherish," the iconic Irish artist says. "We need songs, songs need singers, singers need listeners. We all need each other."

Christy Moore is set to be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards – taking place on Tuesday, November 16, in Vicar Street, Dublin.

He joins previous winners Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brenna (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018). Christy is also set to perform live at the award ceremony.

"My life has been immersed in the pursuit of folk songs and ballads," he comments. "Being part of our folk song community has been an important part of my life. To receive this award from my peers is a great honour, one that I will remember and cherish. We need songs, songs need singers, singers need listeners. We all need each other."

Christy's new studio album, Flying Into Mystery, is out on November 19. Featuring twelve songs, it's a collection that Christy has brought to life through his distinctive writing and unique interpretation of other artists' songs.

"It has been a very different album recording process this time around," he says. "Since 1969 I have been involved in recording but never with a total absence of live performance. Since March 2020 all my focus has been on this album. Once more I’ve been privileged to receive some great songs which kept me well occupied. I produced with Jim Higgins and David Meade engineered the project. There are songs from Ricky Lynch, Paul Doran, Mick Hanly, Wally Page, Tom Tuohy, Gary Moore, Jim Page and Bob Dylan. These sit side by side with traditional songs and a couple of my own offerings."

The RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards celebrates the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year. Last week, the 2021 shortlist was revealed – with nominations for John Francis Flynn, Ye Vagabonds, Mick Flannery, Susan O'Neill, Joshua Burnside, Laura Quirke, Declan O'Rourke, Emma Langford, Moxie, Villagers, Saint Sister, Dani Larkin and more. See the full list of nominees here.

A selection of the nominees will also be performing on the night. The ceremony will be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1 at 8pm on November 16, with a TV highlights programme airing on RTÉ One on Saturday, November 20.

Tickets for the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards are on sale now. See Ticketmaster for more information.