The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) is delighted to announce the shortlist for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2025. The awards recognise Irish venues that deliver the very best standards in live music entertainment. Hundreds of venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 20,000 IMRO members were asked to nominate their top choices in an online poll. Venues were judged on their ambience, staging, sound/lighting facilities, diversity of music programming, accessibility for people with disabilities, venue staff and management and the work they undertake in promoting the venue and its programme of music events.
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards acknowledge the immense efforts made by music venues across Ireland, through the provision of world class entertainment for their customers, their vital contribution to local economies and the significant role they play in providing a public platform for songwriters, composers and performers.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connacht, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan). In addition to this IMRO members nominated their top music festival choices.
IMRO are now offering members of the public the chance to have their voice heard in the 2025 honours roll. The shortlist for the Overall IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Award is drawn up from the IMRO member’s poll and music lovers across Ireland are invited to nominate their favourite Irish venue from the list below.
VOTE HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/imrovenueawards
The ceremony will also see the presentation of the award for Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year via The Readers Poll which is contributed to by Hot Press fans.
Awards Ceremony Details
📍 Venue: The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 ET97
📅 Date: Tuesday, March 25th
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
🎶 Live performances by:
- Annie-Dog
- Florence Road
- F3miii
- DJ Maria Lawlor
A limited number of guest list places are available for this event. If you’d like to attend, please email events@imro.ie with your name(s).
CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING: 5PM, SUNDAY 23rd MARCH
IMRO LIVE MUSIC VENUE/FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR AWARDS SHORTLIST
Dublin
3Olympia Theatre
The Button Factory
The Workman’s Club
Vicar Street
Whelan’s
Rest of Leinster
Cleere’s Bar and Theatre, Kilkenny
The Whale Theatre, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Maggie May’s Bar, Wexford
Ulster
McGinley’s Bar, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan
The Central Bar, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
The Chasin’ Bull, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Watters Old Coach Inn, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Munster
Cork Opera House
Coughlan’s, Cork
Dolan’s, Limerick
Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Mike The Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Connacht
Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo
Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Co. Mayo
Monroes, Galway
TF Royal Hotel & Theatre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
The Quay’s, Galway
IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year Award
Another Love Story
Borderline
Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Éalú Le Grá Music & Arts Festival
Feakle Festival
Night & Day Festival
Other Voices
Rockathon
Sligo Live
When Next We Meet
IMRO Music Festival of the Year Award
All Together Now
District 8 In the Garden
Electric Picnic
Forbidden Fruit
Galway International Arts Festival
In the Meadows
Kaleidoscope Festival
Live @ Iveagh Gardens
Longitude
Sea Sessions
IMRO Venue Tech Crew of the Year Award
Vicar Street
The Academy
3Olympia
The Button Factory
Dolan’s, Limerick
Gleneagle Arena (INEC)
National Concert Hall
3Arena
Live at St. Luke’s, Cork
The Seanti, Ferrybank, Kilkenny
IMRO Festival Tech Crew of the Year Award
Electric Picnic
All Together Now
Longitude
Another Love Story
Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Kilkenny Roots Festival
Live at the Marquee
Kaleidoscope
Cairde Sligo Arts Festival
Other Voices