It was a great night for Irish rock kingpins Fontaines D.C. at the BRITS as they fought off strong competition - from Amyl and The Sniffers, Confidence Man, Future & Metro Boomin and Linkin Park - to win the International Group of the Year award.

This was the band's second BRITS win, conforming their position at the forefront of international rock 'n' roll. The fourth album by Fontaines D.C. – titled Romance – was released in August 2024.

It was an even better night, mind you, for Charli XCX. The British superstar won the coveted Album of the Year award for Brat, as well as Artist of the Year and Dance Act.

Chappell Roan, who gave her Irish fans much to swoon about when she played the Olympia Theatre last year – a gig which saw fans queueing from early morning in order to secure the best possible vantage point – was the other big winner, being named International Artist of the Year and snaffling the award for International Song of the Year for 'Good Luck, Babe'.

Overall, it was an extraordinary night for women, with ten categories in all being won by females, with just five going to men. The Group of the Year category, most often dominated by male-centred outfits, went to The Ezra Collective, who just pipped The Last Dinner Party, whose debut album was released to wild acclaim just over a year ago.

However, the The Last Dinner Party were rewarded with the award for Best New Artist.

The award for Pop Act went to Jade – aka Jade Amelia Thirlwall – of Little Mix, who was also nominated in the Song of the Year category. Little Mix are currently in a hiatus period, following their hugely successful Confetti Tour in 2022.

There was some surprise at Stormzy's selection as Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act ahead of favourite Central Cee – whose Band4Band' (featuring Lil Baby) was nominated for Song of the Year – but otherwise, there was little in the way of controversy. Irish fans will have been disappointed that Jordan Adetunji's brilliant 'Kehlani' didn't prevail in the Song of the Year category – but its nomination represents a real boost for the recent Hot Press cover star.

Here's the full list of BRITS winners:

Global Success
Sabrina Carpenter

Album of the Year
Charli XCX – Brat

Artist of the Year
Charli XCX

Group of the Year
Ezra Collective

Song of the Year
Charli XCX (featuring Billie Eilish) – 'Guess'

Best New Artist
The Last Dinner Party

International Artist of the Year
Chappell Roan

International Group of the Year
Fontaines D.C.

International Song of the Year
Chappell Roan – 'Good Luck, Babe!'

Alternative/Rock Act
Sam Fender

Dance Act
Charli XCX

Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Stormzy

Pop Act
Jade

R&B Act
Raye

Rising Star
Myles Smith

Let's hear it for Fontaines D.C. – keeping the flag flying for Irish music on the international stage.