The renowned Connemara sean nos dancer, Padraic Bradley, now in his 80s, was honoured with a platinum album in Tigh Hughes's pub in Spiddal at the weekend.
Bradley was being recognised for his contribution to the success of the latest album from the Galway band, De Danann, which is on its way to reaching double platinum sales in Ireland.
A younger Bradley with old-style bicycle features on the cover of How the West Was Won. The photograph was found in the famous Tigh Hughes's pub, which was the birthplace of De Danann 25 years ago. That was when Frankie Gavin and Alec Finn began playing sessions with other Galway musicians, and the group was formed.
So when the Galway city and county arts officer. Mr James Harrold, presented platinum discs to the band to mark the album's success Bradley was among those honoured.
Hughes's pub was packed for the event, with former members of the group including Mairtin O'Connor, Jackie Daly, Dolores Keane and Eleanor Shanley joining the current line-up of Frankie Gavin on fiddle, Alec Finn on bouzouki, Colm Murphy on bodhran, Brian McGrath on banjo and keyboards and singer Andrew Murra for the occasion.
With this new album, which has sold almost 30,000 copies since it was released in May, making it Ireland's best-selling traditional album this year, De Danann had proved they were still on top, Mr Harrold said.