John Spillane's folk opera about The Lough among Cork nominees for RTÉ award

Cork singer songwriter John Spillane’s opera about local landmark The Lough has been named as one of the nominees on the shortlist for album of the year at the upcoming RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards.

The album by the Passage West based singer, whose many other hits include ‘Princes Street’ and ‘Johnny Don’t Go To Ballincollig’, is shortlisted for the award alongside folk legend Christy Moore’s ‘A Teriible Beauty’, Cathy Jordan’s ‘Crankie Island Song Project’ and eponymous albums from Keane Connolly McGorman and Lemoncello.

In a Facebook post, John Spillane described the announcement that ‘Fior Uisce — The Legend of the Lough’ has been nominated as ‘great news’ and also referred to a number of the performers on the album, including Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Rioghnach Connolly, who also feature among the nominees.

Shortlist

Two Cork-based musicians are included on the shortlist for the Best Instrumentalist award.

Diarmuid Ó Meachair, the Cúil Aodha box player, as well as Macdara Ó Faoláin, a bouzoki player who hails from the Waterford Gaeltacht in An Rinn, will be vying for the award along with Alannah Thornburgh and Sinéad McKenna.

This is the second year the accordionist has been named on the shortlist for the Best Instrumentalist award.

A teacher in Gaelscoil Uí Riordáin in Ballincollig, Mr Ó Meachair has taken a leave of absence to pursue his musical career and is currently playing alongside fiddle legend Frankie Gavin in his band, Dé Danann.

He and fellow Gaeltacht shortlisted musician, Macdara Ó Faoláin, are both previous winners of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil ‘Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana’ award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award winner will be announced in early February, in advance of the awards.

The category winners will be announced at a special show hosted by RTÉ’s John Creedon at Vicar Street, Dublin, on Wednesday, February 26, to be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1