Last night, 2FM’s Paddy McKenna hosted the much-anticipated 6th IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards at the Irish Music Rights Organisation Headquarters in Dublin.
The award for National Live Music Venue of the Year (via public vote) for the first time was Cork’s newly established venue, Coughlan’s. Of the annual awards voted by over 8,500 IMRO members, Keith Donald, IMRO Chairman said “The IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Awards is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work, vision and creativity that the live music venue and festival sectors deliver week in, week out throughout Ireland”.
Other winners in the regional categories include:
Dublin – Whelans
Rest of Leinster – Mermaid Arts Centre, Wicklow
Munster – Crane Lane Theatre, Cork
Ulster – An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny
Connacht – Matt Molloy’s, Westport, Co. Mayo
Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Live Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Best Small Live Music Festival were Electric Picnic and Body & Soul respectively.
Performances on the night came from Kodaline (who were presented the IMRO No.1 Award to acknowledge their album going to number 1 in June 2013), Gavin James, I Am The Cosmos and IMRO’s newest member Eve Murtagh.
Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes also gave special commendations, presenting awards to Dolans in Limerick and Coughlans in Cork.
He said “Live music is more important than ever for musicians and bands – so it is crucial they they have the best possible venues to play in. The IMRO Live Music Venue Awards are a brilliant platform for recognising all of the good work that is happening all over Ireland in creating those opportunities for musicians.
“Great venues are really important in creating scenes and both Dolan’s in Limerick and Coughlan’s in Cork fit that description perfectly. The overall winner of the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year is Whelan’s, in Dublin.
“Whelan’s is one of the great Irish venues. It has made a huge contribution to Irish music and Irish musicians over the past 25 years, nurturing many of the artists who have gone on to make a huge impression internationally. And they are still playing an essential part in bringing young bands and artists through. They are hugely deserving of this accolade – especially at the beginning of their 25th Anniversary celebrations.”
Pictured is the crew from Coughlan’s, Cork with IMRO Chairman, Keith Donald.
