Ireland

Lifetime achievement award for Clannad's Moya Brennan

Clannad's Moya Brennan has been confirmed as the lifetime achievement winner of this year's RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards
Clannad's Moya Brennan has been confirmed as the lifetime achievement winner of this year's RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards Clannad's Moya Brennan has been confirmed as the lifetime achievement winner of this year's RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards

DONEGAL singer Moya Brennan is to receive the lifetime achievement award in this year's RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

Considered the first lady of Celtic music, Brennan fronted the hugely successful group Clannad with her brothers and two uncles.

Their haunting sound, drawn from the west Donegal Gaeltacht, opened the way for a fusion with contemporary Irish music.

Brennan, who also plays the harp, has won Grammy, Bafta and Ivor Novello awards and worked on projects with U2, the Chieftains, Paul Young, Michael Crawford and others.

From the Rosses parish in Co Donegal, she was one of nine children of Máire and Leo Brennan who would perform in the family’s bar “Leo’s”.

Unveiling the singer as this year’s lifetime achievement winner, RTE’s head of arts and culture Ann-Marie Power said she was an ambassador for Ireland at a very interesting time in the country’s history.

“Throughout her career as a solo artist, she has drawn from the well of history and home while also not being afraid to take on a new challenge or direction," she said.

“She is also admirably very committed to nurturing young talent with her monthly nights in Donegal.”

This year’s Irish Folk Awards will take place at Vicar Street in Dublin on October 24 and will be hosted by John Creedon and Ruth Smith.

The winner of last year’s lifetime achievement award was Andy Irvine of pioneering band Planxty and later Patrick Street.