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
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
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
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
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
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
