For many years, the Ireland Tonight Radio Music Awards (formerly known as American Celtic Listener Supported Radio Awards) have honored those who have impressed radio hosts and listeners with the excellence of their music.
For those of you who would like to listen to Ireland Tonight Radio at 90.9 FM on your radio dial, go to: Ireland Tonight RadioFor 2023, The Ireland Tonight Radio Music Awards have been presented to the following:
· Female Vocalist of the Year: Karan Casey, Nine Apples of Gold
· Male Vocalist of the Year: Joe Gibney, The Jeremiahs, Misery Hill and other stories.
· Album of the Year: Conor Mallon, Unearthed
· Debut Album of the Year: Reverie Road
· Female Musician of the Year: Katie Grennan
· Male Musician of the Year: Sean Heely
· Live Performance of the Year: Pauline Conneely, Reel Housewives of Irish Traditional Music
Female Vocalist of the Year, Karan Casey in 2023 has provided yet another gem, her 12th album, Nine Apples of Gold. This album provides the listeners with thoughtful arrangements and with Kate Ellis on cello, Ashley Hayes on mandolin and many others, the quality of this album has been enhanced. The album focus’ on women and their variety of friendships.
Male Vocalist of the Year is Joe Gibney, The Jeremiahs. The Jeremiahs celebrated 10 years as a band in 2023 and Dublin born Joe Gibney has been surrounded by both traditional Irish music and other music genres from an early age. His love of music shows throughout this album and The Reluctant Farmer illustrates Joe’s love of music and his ability to tell the story.
Album of the Year goes to Conor Mallon for his album Unearthed. Conor Mallon is from Keady, Co. Armagh in the North of Ireland and is known as one of the lead Uillean pipers today. Per folking.com, ‘ Conor Mallon is leading the next generation of Uillean pipe players.’ The dynamics of Conor Mallon’s Unearthed CD are absolutely mesmerizing and complex and you are totally drawn in as you eagerly await the next tune. He captivates his audience with his uilleann pipes. Band members include, Paul Starrett, electric guitar, Jack Warnock, acoustic guitar and vocals, Fintan Mulholland on bodhran and whistle. Unearthed was created during the COVID lockdown and during this time Conor decided to focus all of his attention on unearthing the many unique sounds of the Uillean Pipes. Conor not only is ‘the uillean pipe player’, he also composed many of the tunes on this album. You realize very quickly that as you listen to each track you want more!
Debut Album of the Year is Reverie Road. Reverie Road is a group of highly accomplished musicians.
John Williams, founding member of the group Solas , a multi -instrumentalist and an international wonder playing the flute, concertina, button accordian, bodhran and piano. John has won five All Ireland titles as well as being the only American born competitor to win first place in the Senior Concertina category.
Katie Grennan, formerly from Gaelic Storm is a classically trained fiddle player and Irish Dancer who is not only working on the Reverie Road project but also on STEAM, the Irish Quartet, The Bow Tides and is the executive director of Share a Note which provides music to those that are not well in a variety of hospitals.
Winifred Horan, is a classical trained fiddler who has played with Cherish the Ladies as well as the Sharon Shannon band and is also a founding member of Solas. She is an accomplished teacher and often asked for sessions.Utsav Lal rounds out the Reverie Road band. He is an accomplished piano player that has performed several piano concerts which include Indian ragas at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center.Utsav Lal is currently on the teaching faculty of Piano School of NYC.
Four people who bring their love of Irish Traditional music and their musical experiences to the album makes Reverie Road a delightful listen.
Female Musician of the Year is Katie Grennan. Katie has taken on several different projects this past year. She is formerly from Gaelic Storm and is a classically trained fiddle player and Irish Dancer extraordinaire who is not only working on the Reverie Road project but also on STEAM, the Irish Quartet, The Bow Tides and is the executive director of Share a Note which provides music to those that are not well in a variety of hospitals. Katie is a lead instructor at the trinity Academy of Irish Dance based in Chicago. In addition to her many varied projects, Katie has released several solo albums.
Male Musician of the Year is Sean Heely. Sean is a champion fiddler and singer and has released his latest album Dramagical in 2023. Liz Carroll has referred to him as “One powerhouse of a fiddler.” He is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award winning fiddle and folk singer in Scottish Gaelic. Dramagical provides the listener with the drama and magic that is Scotland. In addition to performing Sean provides individual instruction in his private teaching school. Sean developed a Celtic Christmas Concert that has always sold out and has plans to take it on the road next holiday season. Sean features many original tunes and arrangements with the Sean Heely Celtic Band.
Live Performance of the Year goes to Pauline Conneely, and the Reel Housewives of Traditional Irish Music. Pauline coordinated 14 ladies that have exceptional musical talent to perform together for the first time at Chief O’Neill’s in Chicago. All had played with each other at some point in time but they had not all played together. “The Reel Housewives of Irish Traditional Music,” included Eimear Arkins, Michelle Bergin, Laura Byrne, Liz Carroll, Kathleen Conneely, Pauline Conneely, Rose Flanagan, Patty Furlong, Eileen Gannon, Eileen Goodman, Liz Knowles, Siobhán McKinney, Margie Mulvihill, and Clodagh Ryan. The talent, the wonderful camaraderie and the genuine enjoyment of playing together came through to the audience loud and clear.
Congratulations to all of our Ireland Tonight Radio Music Award winners for 2023.
Just Announced: The Ireland Tonight Radio Music Awards for 2023
