The Choice Music Prize ceremony took place in Dublin's Vicar Street last night.
Two acts were missing from the live line-up as they're currently on tour - Girl Band and Lankum - and as it happens, Lankum ended up winning the main event.
The folk-trad quartet's album 'The Livelong Day' was critically acclaimed upon its release last year. It beat off stiff competition from the likes of Fontaines DC, Mick Flannery and Sorcha Richardson to be named Irish Album of the Year 2019.
The band's manager Cian Lawless accepted the award on their behalf. The band - who are currently on tour in the US - said that they were "gutted we can't be home to go on the lash with him and all the other phenomenal nominated musicians tonight."
They also said that they were enjoying a quiet celebratory tipple.
We're currently skulling whiskey in Brooklyn.
Thanks for all the well wishes everyone!
xx https://t.co/uHiLNHIvWI— LANKUM (@LankumDublin) March 5, 2020
Earlier in the night, Westlife's manager Louis Walsh had accepted the award for 'Irish Song of the Year 2019' for the boyband's track 'Hello My Love'. It seems that he ruffled a few feathers when asked who he wanted to win the Album accolade:
Scenes at the #rteChoicePrize where Westlife win Song of Year ahead of up & coming Irish acts. Out pops Louis Walsh to accept award to chorus of hisses and boos. As he leaves he’s asked who he hopes wins the main prize and he says Dermot Kennedy and another who aren’t nominated. pic.twitter.com/l3bdiqWdYk
— Cormac D (@Camroc) March 5, 2020
In general, Lankum's win has been well-received by most.
Looks like we went a *teeny* bit overboard on the celebratory cocaine backstage... 😬#moderationiskey pic.twitter.com/tNgbEHZxRc
— LANKUM (@LankumDublin) March 6, 2020
Again. And again. Thank fuck for Lankum.
— Eoin Murray (@eoin_murraye) March 5, 2020
Lankum, well deserved! #rtechoiceprize #choiceprize
— Eoin Dineen (@Eoin__Dineen) March 5, 2020
.@LankumDublin have won the @choiceprize for their album #thelivelongday 🤍 huge congratulations to all the band and John ‘Spud’ Murphy for all the hard work. You’ve given us a truly beautiful album 🙏☘️ #Lankum #RTE #choiceprize pic.twitter.com/5WzYfRIcnJ
— Siobhán McAndrew (@Shiv_Mc_A) March 5, 2020
Well done #Lankum , well deserved, bringing irish music forward! 👌 #rtechoiceprize
— Anita Murphy (@AnitaCMurphy) March 5, 2020
Delighted @LankumDublin won the @choiceprize for 'The Livelong Day', well deserved, superb record that in years to come will surely be remembered as one of the great Irish albums. Bring on Paddy's day in @CorkOperaHouse ,sure to be a belter & get in early for the @marywallopers pic.twitter.com/gay9qa7C4C
— Eddie Kiely (@Eddiekielycork) March 6, 2020
