A podcast exploring the cultural dynamics of Irish traditional music sessions has won five awards at the 2026 New York City Podcast Awards, marking a major international recognition for Irish traditional music storytelling.
In Tune with Tradition – Perspectives on Session Etiquette in Irish Traditional Music, hosted by Donegal musician and author Tara Connaghan, received awards across both audience-voted and judged categories at the ceremony held in New York City.
The podcast was nominated in four categories and won five awards, including:
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Best Entertainment & Pop Culture (Audience Choice)
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Best Interview (Audience Choice)
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Best Society & Culture (Audience Choice)
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Best Entertainment & Pop Culture (Libby Award - judged)
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Special Recognition: Music Podcast (Libby Award - judged)
The awards are presented by the New York City Podcast Awards, which recognises standout podcasts across a wide range of categories from independent creators and international productions.
Connaghan’s podcast focuses on the subtle social and cultural dynamics that shape Irish traditional music sessions, informal gatherings where musicians come together to play music in pubs and community spaces. Through conversations with leading musicians and musicians from a variety of perspectives, the series explores how newcomers learn to navigate these spaces and how sessions function as living cultural ecosystems.
Tara Conighan from Glenties
Speaking after the ceremony, Connaghan said the recognition highlights the global interest in the deeper cultural context surrounding Irish traditional music.
“Irish music sessions are informal but they are not accidental. They operate on unspoken cultural agreements that musicians learn through experience. The podcast explores those dynamics so that people around the world can participate in Irish music with understanding and respect.”
Since its launch, In Tune with Tradition has attracted listeners from across the Irish diaspora and the wider global traditional music community. The podcast has also been adopted by music schools and discussion groups as a way of examining the cultural traditions surrounding Irish music sessions.
Irish traditional music sessions remain one of the most important ways the music is shared and passed on between generations. Connaghan’s work seeks to document and explain the social codes that help maintain the collaborative spirit and musical standards of those gatherings.
The podcast is available worldwide via all podcast platforms and through the project website, www.sessionetiquette.com