Dónal Lunny will be this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.
The awards will take place on Wednesday 26th February in Vicar Street and will be presented by John Creedon.
Rising to fame through the legendary bands Emmet Spiceland and Planxty, Dónal Lunny is one of the most significant figures in folk and traditional music ever to come out of Ireland. His influence as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer has shaped the sound of Irish music for more than half a century.
Lunny, whose mother Mary Rogers hailed from Rann na Feirste, comes from a family steeped in the musical tradition of Ireland. His brother Manus lives in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
As this year’s recipient of the RTE Folk Lifetime Achievement Award, Dónal joins a distinguished list of Lifetime Achievement recipients, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (2024), Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).
Dónal Lunny
Head of RTÉ Radio 1 and Member of the 2025 Folk Awards Steering Committee, Peter Woods said: “With the change between The Raggle Taggle Gypsy and Tabhair dom do Lámh on the Prosperous album and the opening chords of the Kesh Jig on the first Bothy Band recording, Dónal Lunny announced and was central to a shift of gear in Irish music. He defined much of the music of a generation at a time when traditional music was not mainstream and was almost subversive.
“His contribution to that music through Planxty, to Moving Hearts, Mozaik and of course the Bothies and beyond, sits alongside a career as a producer and collaborator across genres and as a true innovator. Dónal has done this without losing sight of the integrity of the music. What he has turned his hand to he has enhanced.
“It is a real honour for RTÉ Radio 1 to be associated with this award.”
The RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards is also delighted to announce a live performance by his new group, Dónal Lunny’s Darkhorse, at this year’s show as part of the celebrations of his Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards will be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1 and the RTÉ Radio Player.
Róise Rua, a renowned singer from Árainn Mhór, Dún na nGall, will be inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night. Georgina Dudgeon, a relative of Róise Rua who has been involved in promoting and celebrating her great-grand-aunt’s legacy, will be among the guests of honour at Vicar Street, to accept the award on her behalf.
In addition to the live broadcast of the awards on RTÉ Radio 1, a television highlights programme will air on RTÉ One on Saturday 1st March.
Tags:
