Ballinasloe based singer Eleanor Shanley was honoured by one of Europe’s largest folk and root festivals earlier this month, when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Tønder in Denmark.

The Tønder Festival, held in August every year, is one of Europe’s largest and most important folk festivals, and legendary artists who have performed there over the years include Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris.

With her incomparable voice and passion for folk music, Leitrim-born Eleanor, who began her singing career with De Dannan, has won fans around the world for decades. She has particularly strong ties with Tønder, having been a regular guest at the festival since the 1990s, and she gave a special performance this year as the event marked its 50th anniversary.

Eleanor became the second Irish person to be inducted into Tønder’s Hall of Fame and she was the first woman to receive the honour.

Vice-Chairman of the Tønder Festival Foundation, Poul-Henrik Jensen, told guests at the ceremony, which was held in festival venue, Hagge’s Music Pub, that the honour was being given in recognition of her enormous contribution to folk music and her ongoing role as an ambassador for the genre.

Welcoming fans from Denmark and the large group of family and friends from Ireland who had accompanied Eleanor to Tønder, he highlighted her importance to the festival and to folk music generally.

Many friends and colleagues from the music industry in Ireland sent messages of congratulations to Eleanor, and these were read out by fellow singer and musician Cathy Jordan of Dervish who presented her with the award.

This was a wooden sculpture created by Danish artist Søren Assenholt, as well as a specially composed poem and song by writer Sanne Flyvberg, who had spent time in Ireland with Eleanor earlier this year, getting an insight into her life and musical heritage.

The induction ceremony, held on November 16, was a music-filled occasion, with a performance from Danish singer Helene Blum and Harald Haugaard, a set from Cathy Jordan, and a memorable performance from the woman of the hour.

Eleanor will return to Denmark next February for a tour of the Nordic country, accompanied by classical guitarist John Feeley.

Closer to home, she and John will be in concert in the Cornerstone, Gurteeny, Woodford, on Friday, December 20, at 8pm. Tickets for that event are €25, and available from Eventbrite.ie – key in Eleanor Shanley and John Feeley.

Pictured: Elenaor Shanley with the sculpture created by Danish artist Søren Assenholt.