RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards taking place in Dublin tonight

Updated / Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 13:24

The annual RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards are taking place in Dublin's Vicar Street this evening.

Celebrating the artists and the music produced across the last year, the award categories include Best Folk Singer and Best Original Folk Track.

Artists performing at the live show include Beoga, Declan O'Rourke, and the Keane Family in the presence of Uachtarán Catherine Connolly.

They will be celebrating the life, music, and memory of Dolores Keane, who passed away in March.

Dolores Keane will be posthumously inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame.

She 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.

RTÉ Radio 1 said: "In inducting Dolores Keane into the Hall of Fame, the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards will celebrate her legacy as a great ambassador and guardian of Ireland's sacred folk and traditional music traditions."

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Tommy Sands, described as "one of Ireland's most celebrated folk singers, songwriters, broadcasters, and social activists".

Born in Mayobridge, Co Down, he first came to international prominence with The Sands Family, whose pioneering tours brought Irish traditional music to audiences around the world, from New York's Carnegie Hall to Moscow's Olympic Stadium.

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Listen: Tommy Sands discusses his life and work with Miriam O'Callaghan on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday with Miriam.

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Over the course of a distinguished career, Tommy Sands' music has been celebrated for combining powerful storytelling with a deep commitment to peace and understanding.

His work has been recorded by artists including Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Dolores Keane, and The Dubliners, and it has been translated into many languages.

Widely regarded as a significant cultural voice during Northern Ireland's peace process, Tommy Sands' songwriting has often reflected the realities of conflict and reconciliation.

His acclaimed song There Were Roses, inspired by the tragic deaths of two friends from different traditions during the Troubles, remains one of the most enduring musical responses to the conflict.

In performances with his children Moya and Fionán Sands, Tommy Sands continues to perform live and to explore the connections between music, wellbeing, and social change, bringing together his passion for storytelling, community, and world-class musicianship.

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

The awards ceremony takes place after the death of the much-loved Johnny McEvoy was confirmed on Monday.

The awards will be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1 from 8pm, hosted by RTÉ's John Creedon.

Nominees across the categories include Lisa O'Neill, Cormac Begley and Liam O'Connor, and Damien Dempsey.

A television highlights programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Saturday, 14 November at 10:50pm.

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