There are some great young folk singers out there - heard Hannah Sanders the other day who blew my socks off although for some reason it's not quite the same on recordings or video.

This list is all about personal preference of course, but if you listen to Luke Kelly's speaking voice in recorded interviews it is just as beautiful, utterly mesmerising. That might be a good indicator of an exceptional voice.

Also I may have missed it but there doesn't seem to have been much mention of Margaret Barry - sweet and rough and raw and unmatchable. Those recordings from the 60s in the middle of packed pubs where you can hear nothing because she rooted the punters to the spot - that tells you something too.