I don't usually get frustrated about these things but there is one serious ommission which as far as I can see can only be down to Pip Radish's comments of "impact" over "what's the best".

Damien O'Kane's Summerhill is one of the most impressive 'traditional' albums in the truest sense of the word in quite literally years. Largely songs from his native area, searched out, researched, put to fabulous arrangements, only a couple of which are 'regular reworkings' and most of which are pretty unfamiliar/ long lost which he has breathed new life into. It is a stunning album and one which is bringing lesser known traditional tracks to the fore, as opposed to traditional songs that we have all already heard a thousand times before.

I truly believe it will in time be looked back upon in a similar way to how we view such albums as 'Andy Irvine and Paul Brady'.

The fact that not one of a) the album, b) 'Summerhill' or 'Banks of Boyne', and c)'Raven's Wing' has been nominated in the 'album', 'Traditional Song' and 'Original Song' categories is just beyond me.

True class, and it just hasn't had a look in. This fella is a major talent in the tradition, musically (banjo, guitar), vocally and in terms of arrangements, and someone completely immersed in the tradition. He just doesn't shout about it.

I think is purely to do with the fact that it hasn't had a 'big release'.

Apalled in Southport.