The achievements of Ireland's live music venues were celebrated in Dublin on Wednesday evening, as the winners of the 2024 IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards were revealed during a special live ceremony at the Sugar Club.

Hosted by Tom Dunne, the event saw venues, festivals, and the people behind the scenes recognised for the work they do in providing a platform for brilliant live music. Fittingly, there were a number of stellar live performances on the night from some of the finest, fast-rising homegrown acts including Annie-Dog, F3miii and Florence Road.

With representatives from across the industry in attendance, the night also featured speeches from IMRO Chairperson Eleanor McEvoy as well as Hot Press Editor Niall Stokes.

"With the political turmoil unleashed by the Presidency of Donald Trump," Niall Stokes said, "and the new wave of censorship it has ushered in, the lives and livelihoods of musicians and artists are under greater threat than anyone could have imagined just a few months ago. That makes the work of everyone involved in Irish live music venues all the more important. We are enjoying a period of powerful creativity and excitement across all genres of music in Ireland, but the reality is that without the venues and the festivals that are celebrated here tonight, none of this would be possible. We really do owe the people who put so much energy and commitment into making live music happen right across the country, all year round, a huge vote of thanks. Their work is absolutely vital. Long may it continue, as we collectively fight against the attack on culture being waged by not one but by many authoritarian regimes that would – and will if they are allowed – silence critics, shut down media and undermine artistic freedom in any and every way possible."

IMRO Venue Awards on March 25th, 2025. By Abigail Ring

Hundreds of venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and over 20,000 IMRO members were asked to nominate their top choices in an online poll. Judging criteria included "ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of music programming, accessibility for people with disabilities, venue staff and management and the work they undertake in promoting the venue and its programme of music events."

As IMRO – the Irish Music Rights Organisation – describes on its website, the awards "acknowledge the immense efforts made by music venues across Ireland, through the provision of world class entertainment for their customers, their vital contribution to local economies and the significant role they play in providing a public platform for songwriters, composers and performers."

Among the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the special Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year award to 3Arena – as voted for in the Hot Press Readers' Poll.

"I was able to take a daytime walk around 3Arena recently," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said, "and it really is a fantastic facility, which is designed specifically for music, and which can we adopted to so many different circumstances and configurations. We all treasure those moments that we see major artists do special gigs in smaller venues, as has happened in the Baggot Inn, the POD, the Academy, Vicar Street and the Olympia Theatre over the years, but you need great, larger venues to accommodate the big shows and enable major artists' fanbases to see them in action. And, as so many artists will attest, playing 3Arena is right up there with the best music experiences in the world."

The very stylish Set Theatre in Kilkenny and the legendary Mike The Pies in Listowel – currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary – were also honoured with Hot Press Special Commendation awards for their exceptional contribution to Irish music.

The full list of winners of IMRO Awards is as follows:

National Live Music Venue of the Year - McGinley’s Bar, Letterkenny

Festival of the Year - All Together Now

Venue Technical Crew of the Year - Vicar Street

Ulster Venue of the Year - McGinley’s Bar, Letterkenny

Connacht Venue of the Year - TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar

Small Music Festival of the Year - Another Love Story

Festival Technical Crew of the  Year - Electric Picnic

Munster Venue of the Year - Coughlan’s, Cork

Dublin Venue of the Year - Button Factory

Rest of Leinster Venue of the Year - Set Theatre, Kilkenny