THE OPERA HOUSE CORK SCOOP THE IMRO NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011
The headquarters of the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) was packed to capacity last night (Tuesday 28th February) for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2011. Cork Opera House CEO Mary Hickson was on hand to accept the premier accolade of IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year, which was presented by IMRO Chairman and legendary Moving Hearts man Keith Donald and IMRO CEO Victor Finn. Electric Picnic took home the Irish Festival of the Year Award.
RTÉ’s Jenny Huston hosted the evening, which celebrates the live music community in Ireland, the behind the scenes people in venues up and down the country, from owners to bookers, front of house staff to sound and lighting engineers. IMRO Regional Venue of the Year Awards were presented with The Grand Social in Dublin winning the Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year Award; the Connacht Award went to the Róisín Dubh in Galway; Cork’s Cyprus Avenue won the Munster Live Music Venue of the Year Award; the Mermaid Arts Centre in Wicklow was awarded the Leinster (excluding Dublin) Award, while Voodoo in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal took home the Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year Award.
In addition, Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes presented Hot Press Readers Awards to the O2, Dublin, The Academy, Dublin and the Róisín Dubh, Galway.
Of the awards, Victor Finn, CEO of IMRO said: “The contribution that live music venues and festivals make to local economies is often not recognised and their value in a social and cultural sense within communities is priceless. We are delighted to recognise the contribution that these first class facilities make and to celebrate their achievements”.
IMRO Live Music Venue Awards 2011 IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 The Cork Opera House Winner selected from all shortlisted venues below
| IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 |
| The Academy |
| The Button Factory |
| The Grand Social – Winner |
| Vicar Street |
| The Olympia
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| IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 |
| Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly |
| The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth |
| Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co. Wicklow – Winner |
| The Watergate Theatre, Co. Kilkenny |
| Wexford Opera House, Co. Wexford |
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| IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 |
| The Dock Arts Centre, Co. Leitrim |
| Town Hall Theatre, Co. Galway |
| Roisin Dubh, Co. Galway – Winner |
| Hawk’s Well Theatre, Co. Sligo |
| Roscommon Arts Centre, Co. Roscommon |
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| IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 |
| Cyprus Avenue, Co. Cork – Winner |
| Crane Lane, Co. Cork |
| Cork Opera House, Co. Cork |
| Theatre Royal, Co. Waterford |
| University Concert Hall, Co. Limerick |
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| IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2011 |
| Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal |
| McGrorys, Culdaff, Co. Donegal |
| The Abbey Hotel, Donegal, Co. Donegal |
| Voodoo, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – Winner |
| Ramor Theatre, Virginia, Co. Cavan |
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| IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2011 |
| Castlepalooza |
| Electric Picnic – Winner |
| Live @ The Marquee Cork |
| Sea Sessions |
| Oxegen |
| Vantastival |
| Templebar Trad Festival |
| Indiependence |
| Temple House Festival |
| Galway Arts Festival |
