Whelan's, that fixture of the live music scene in this country, has been recognised at the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year awards. The Wexford Street venue, at which we've seen many a great gig, was named the Best Venue in Dublin, coinciding with the bar's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Elsewhere Cork's newly-established venue Coughlan's was honoured with the overall Live Music Venue of the Year gong (via public vote), while the Mermaid Arts Centre in Wicklow, Crane Lane Theatre in Cork, An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny and Matt Molloy's in Westport picked up regional awards. Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Live Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Best Small Live Music Festival were Electric Picnic and Body & Soul respectively.
The bash took place last night at the Irish Music Rights Organisation Headquarters in Dublin, where Kodaline, Gavin James, I Am The Cosmos and Eve Murtagh performed.
Speaking of Whelan's winning Best Venue in Dublin, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said: "Whelan’s is one of the great Irish venues. It has made a huge contribution to Irish music and Irish musicians over the past 25 years, nurturing many of the artists who have gone on to make a huge impression internationally. And they are still playing an essential part in bringing young bands and artists through. They are hugely deserving of this accolade – especially at the beginning of their 25th Anniversary celebrations."
This capped a successful time for Whelan's, after also being awarded the Hotpress Live Music Venue of the Year Award.
See yis there for a pint?
