After an online poll of its 6,000 members, the Irish Music Rights Organisation doled out their Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 on Tuesday December 1 in Copyright House.

Venues were judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.

Attended by musicians, venue owners and bookers from all over Ireland, the Awards featured a keynote address from IMRO Chairman and Moving Hearts member Keith Donald who emphasised the increasing importance of the live circuit to artists whose record sales have been seriously affected by illegal downloading.

Also on hand to present the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year Award (as voted by the public) was Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes. “In the midst of the general doom and gloom it’s important that we retain our ability to have a good time. Live music is crucial to that, providing as it does the opportunity for people to immerse themselves in the magic and the beauty of the world’s most popular and accessible art form.

“It is great to have the opportunity to pay our respects to the people who run the venues and enable us to see the musicians and the bands in action. A particular congratulations to Cyprus Avenue, who have been flying the flag in Cork, for some years now, with great success and have ben voted The Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year. Here’s to it. ”

The complete list of venues taking home the silverware this year were:

IMRO National Music Venue of the Year – Vicar St., Dublin

Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year (as voted by the public) – Cyprus Avenue, Cork. There were also special Hot Press commendations for The O2, Dublin; Roisin Dubh, Galway; Royal Theatre, Castlebar; and The Academy, Dublin

The Regional Winners of the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year were:
Dublin – Vicar St.
Rest of Leinster – The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Ulster – McGrory’s, Culduff, Donegal
Connaught – Roisin Dubh, Galway
Munster – Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick

Well done to all concerned, and here’s to another brilliant year of live music in 2010!