LIMERICK artist Emma Langford is on the RTE Radio 1 Folk Awards Shortlist for Best Original Folk Track with her 2023 single ‘Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan)’. Emma and band are currently on an extensive US tour with shows in Kansas, Chicago and Milwaukee this week. Emma reported, she was thrilled to be nominated among fellow nominees, Eoghan Ó’Ceannabháin, Steo Wall, Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O’Reilly, The Henry Girls and Ríoghnach Connolly, and Lisa O’Neill.
“As always, I stand by my belief that music is not and should never be competitive, but to be acknowledged by our national broadcaster for a song that I really truly loved writing and always love performing is just an absolute buzz.”
The 6th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards happens in Vicar Street, Dublin on Tuesday February 27 and live on RTÉ Radio 1 from 8pm.
Emma released the song ‘Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan)’ in February 2023.
This beautiful song comes from a tradition linked with Irish saint, Gobnait. The tradition is called Tomhas Ghobnatan. The name “Gobnait” can be translated as “Abigail” (Hebrew) or “Deborah” (English). “Tomhas Ghobnatan” (Gobnait’s Measure in English) is the name given to a piece of ribbon measured along the length, around the feet and around the neck of an ancient medieval statue of the saint by her worshippers who come to Ballyvourney in February each year for Gobnait’s Day. The blessed ribbon can be kept, or given to someone in need of help or healing. Emma said, “I was inspired by the stories of Gobnait, local devotion to her, and the idea of “Gobnait’s Measure” to write this track in the style of a love song to a woman who embodies the virtues of kindness, healing, and forgiveness.”
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