O Emperor have won the Choice Music Prize, with their album Jason.

The band from Waterford may have been considered outsiders – but that proved to be no obstacle, with the judges coming down firmly in their favour. However, there was bitter irony to the recognition, as the band confirmed to a startled crowd what many insiders already knew: that this was their final act as O Emperor.

“This is a great way to finish up,” the band told the audience at Vicar Street. “We all need the money.” The award carries a prize of €10,000.

It seems that the victory is unlikely to change their minds about calling it a day. “We’re all grand now,” they said, when asked about the future, and the possibility if staying together. But individual members are likely to remain involved in music.

"Of all the years that I have been chairman of the judging panel,” the Chairman of the judging panel, Tony Clayton Lea, said, "this year was the closest in terms of winner and runner up, with Kojaque's album Deli Daydreams pipped at the post by O Emperor.”

Hot Press readers might have opted for The Academics’ superb Tales From The Backseat – which won the Best Debut Album in the Hot Press Readers Poll, as well as coming in as No.2 in the Album of hte Year category. However, Hot Press poll winner Gavin James’ Only Ticket Home was not in the final ten for the Choice Prize.

As for the Hot Press critics, they had chosen Rejjie Snow’s Dear Annie as their Irish album of the Year. Other Hot press faves in the top 10 included Wyvern Lingo’s eponymous debut album and Saint Sister’s superb Shape of Silence, among others. But in truth there was a lot of quality – albeit indie quality – in the records selected. Here is the full list of the shortlisted ten:

The Academic – Tales From The Backseat
Delorentos – True Surrender
Just Mustard – Wednesday
Kojaque – Deli Daydreams
O Emperor – Jason
Lisa O’Neill – Heard A Long Gone Song
Saint Sister – Shape Of Silence
Rejjie Snow – Dear Annie
Villagers – The Art Of Pretending To Swim
Wyvern Lingo – Wyvern Lingo

RTÉ2 will broadcast highlights from the RTÉ Choice Music Prize on Sunday, March 17 at 11:15pm.