Scores of music venues and festivals across Ireland have been nominated for the Irish Music Rights Organisation's Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2025.
The awards recognise Irish venues that deliver the very best standards in live music entertainment, with hundreds of venues qualifying and more than 20,000 IMRO members then nominating their top choices in an online poll for the final shortlist.
According to IMRO, venues were "judged on their ambience, staging, sound/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".
The awards acknowledge the vital contribution to local economies and the significant role Irish venues play in providing a public platform for songwriters, composers and performers.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connacht, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan). In addition to this IMRO members nominated their top music festival choices.
IMRO are now offering members of the public the chance to have their voice heard in the 2025 honours roll. The shortlist for the Overall IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Award is drawn up from the IMRO member’s poll and music lovers across Ireland are invited to nominate their favourite Irish venue from the list below.
Vote here.
The closing date for voting is at 5pm on 23 March.
Awards ceremony will take place at The Sugar Club in Dublin on 25 March, with live performances from Annie-Dog, Florence Road, F3miii and DJ Maria Lawlor.
The ceremony will also see the presentation of the award for Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year via The Readers Poll which is contributed to by Hot Press readers.
For free tickets, please email [email protected] with your name(s).
The IMRO Live Music Venue/Festival Of The Year Awards shortlist:
Dublin
3Olympia Theatre
The Button Factory
The Workman's Club
Vicar Street
Whelan's
Rest of Leinster
Cleere's Bar and Theatre, Kilkenny
The Whale Theatre, Greystones, Co. Wicklow
The Set Theatre, Kilkenny
The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Maggie May's Bar, Wexford
Ulster
McGinley's Bar, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan
The Central Bar, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
The Chasin' Bull, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Watters Old Coach Inn, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan
Munster
Cork Opera House
Coughlan's, Cork
Dolan's, Limerick
Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Mike The Pies, Listowel, Co. Kerry
Connacht
Hawks Well Theatre, Sligo
Matt Molloy's, Westport, Co. Mayo
Monroes, Galway
TF Royal Hotel & Theatre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
The Quay's, Galway
IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year Award
Another Love Story
Borderline
Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Éalú Le Grá Music & Arts Festival
Feakle Festival
Night & Day Festival
Other Voices
Rockathon
Sligo Live
When Next We Meet
IMRO Music Festival of the Year Award
All Together Now
District 8 In the Garden
Electric Picnic
Forbidden Fruit
Galway International Arts Festival
In the Meadows
Kaleidoscope Festival
Live @ Iveagh Gardens
Longitude
Sea Sessions
IMRO Venue Tech Crew of the Year Award
Vicar Street
The Academy
3Olympia
The Button Factory
Dolan's, Limerick
INEC
National Concert Hall
3Arena
Live at St. Luke's, Cork
The Seanti, Ferrybank, Kilkenny
IMRO Festival Tech Crew of the Year Awar
Electric Picnic
All Together Now
Longitude
Another Love Story
Clonakilty International Guitar Festival
Kilkenny Roots Festival
Live at the Marquee
Kaleidoscope
Cairde Sligo Arts Festival
Other Voices
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