The Dubliners to receive BBC lifetime achievement award

The Dubliners are to be honoured for their lifetime achievements at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Singer Don McLean, famed for worldwide hits such as 'Vincent' and 'American Pie', will also be honoured.

The winners of the awards – to be presented on February 8 – were announced by presenter Mike Harding on his Radio 2 show tonight.

The Dubliners have been among the most recognisable names in traditional Irish music since they formed 50 years ago.

The band – who have collaborated with The Pogues, among others, to win a new generation of fans – are famed for tracks such as 'Whiskey In The Jar', 'The Wild Rover' and 'The Rocky Road To Dublin'.

Radio 2 head of music Jeff Smith said: “Both the Dubliners and Don McLean are much loved by the Radio 2 audience, and I’d like to congratulate them on their well-deserved awards.”

Harding – who will co-host the awards which will be broadcast live – said: “When The Dubliners virtually invented the Dublin pub music scene 50 years ago, they changed the face of Irish music forever. They were exciting and different, with a real whiff of danger about them.”

And paying tribute to McLean, he added: “The truly great songwriters, who create works of such quality that they become standards across genres, are owed a debt of gratitude by the music world and I think it’s fantastic that we’re presenting Don McLean with this award.”

The event takes place at the Lowry Theatre in Salford Quays. Both honorary award-winners will perform on the night, alongside Christy Moore, The Unthanks, Martin Simpson and Seth Lakeman.