The award was presented to Lunny, who plays left-handed guitar, bouzouki, keyboards and the bodhrán, by legendary Belfast musician Van Morrison. The event, held for the first time in Northern Ireland, was presented by Radio 2 Folk Show host Mark Radcliffe and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis.

Dublin-based four-piece traditional folk group Lankum – who many thought stole the show at the Shane McGowan tribute gig in the National Concert Hall in January - collected the award in the hotly contested ‘Best Group’ category from Finbar Furey of The Fureys. Lankum also picked up the prize for Best Original Track for their tune 'The Granite Gaze'.

Scottish trad musician Mohsen Amini collected the prize for Musician of the Year, sealing his reputation as a musician to watch in the world of traditional and folk music.

Performances included Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, Lankum and Paul Brady.

Head of Radio 2, Lewis Carnie said, ““I’d like to congratulate all of tonight’s winners – the calibre of nominees was extremely high and the wealth of talent that was seen on stage across the evening in Belfast was spectacular.”

The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards will be broadcast on April 8 on BBC Four at 9pm and on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 5.30pm.

See the full list of winners below:

Horizon Award - Ímar
Best Traditional Track - Banks of Newfoundland by Siobhan Miller
Best Duo - Chris Stout & Catriona McKay
Musician of the Year - Mohsen Amini
Best Original Track - The Granite Gaze by Lankum
Lifetime Acheivement Award - Dónal Lunny
Best Group - Lankum
Hall of Fame Inductee - Nick Drake
Young Folk Award - Mera Royle
Best Album - Strangers by The Young'uns
Good Tradition Award - Armagh Pipers Club
Folk Singer of the Year - Karine Polwart