NewsRoom

Bill Whelan Presented with Prestigious IMRO Music Award by an Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern

Today, Friday 2nd March at 8.00pm at a prestigious black tie ceremony held in Dublin Castle renowned Irish Musician, Bill Whelan was presented with the IMRO Award by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern.

On making the presentation Mr. Ahern spoke of the enormous influence Bill Whelan and his peers have had on Irish Music and its traditions both domestically and internationally together with the tremendous breadth of Bill’s musical activities stretching over the last 20 years.

The IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) Award is a rare honour to receive.

Only once before has this honour been bestowed, that was on this night three years ago. IMRO represent the interests of many of Ireland’s greatest composers and songwriters and recognises the need to take a lead in the fostering and creation of a vibrant Irish Music Community. Tonight IMRO recognises one of it’s peers, Bill Whelan.

Mike Hanrahan, Chairperson of IMRO echoed Mr. Ahern’s words when speaking of Bill and asked, “May I say that he was the unanimous choice?” and went on to list some of Bill’s achievements in his amazing musical career to date:

• He has received a Laurence Olivier Award Nomination for his adaptation of Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore which ran in London, Sydney and Melbourne.
• In 1989 he was appointed composer for the WB Yeats International Festival.
• Compositional work in International films include Lamb, Some Mother’s Son and Dancing At Lughnasa.
• Riverdance - The Show has performed live to a world-wide audience of nearly 12 million with television audiences to date in excess of 1.2 billion people.
• Bill has also recently been awarded Freedom of the City of his hometown Limerick.

In essence Bill’s track record in the Irish Music Industry leaves no doubt as to why he would be unanimous choice for an award such as The IMRO Award for contributions to Irish Music Industry .

A large number of colleagues and friends from the worlds of show business, politics and the media attended the prestigious event to congratulate Bill and help him and his lovely wife Denise celebrate.

Amongst those present were former American Ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, Andrea, Jim and Caroline Corr, U2 Manager Paul McGuinness, Paul Brady, Jim Sheridan, Brian Kennedy, Ronnie Drew, Donal Lunny and Maire Breatnach