The Olympia Theatre in Dublin has been voted Hot Press Venue of the Year. The announcement was made tonight at the IMRO Live Venue of the Year Awards.

The Olympia has recently undergone a €3 million refurbishment, bringing one of Ireland’s oldest and best established venues right up to date, in spectacular style.

There were also special commendations for smaller venues, which were presented on the night by Hot Press editor Niall Stokes. This year, they went to Mike The Pies in Listowel and Boyles’s of Slane.

“It has been an outstanding year for live music in Ireland,” Niall Stokes said. "That is, of course, true in relation to what is happening in the big venues, like The Olympia Theatre, which has just been refurbished with spectacular results, and at festivals – which are so important to the ongoing health of Irish music. But from the point of view of working Irish musicians, it is really encouraging also to see the emergence of venues in smaller towns around the country, where they can go and gig – and both find an audience and earn their wages. Which is why I am so pleased to have presented awards tonight to Mike The Pies in Listowel and Boyle’s of Slane. It is the hard work and dedication of the people who make things happen in venues and bars like these – and countless others around the country – that make all the difference. Long may they flourish.”

Hot Press also marked the recent publication of the music industry report ‘Let’s Celebrate’ by presenting a special award to its author Justin Green.

Meanwhile, an IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music accolade was awarded to the late Frank Murray (tour manager with Thin Lizzy and manager of The Pogues) who sadly passed away in December 2016. The award was presented on the night to Frank’s daughter, Shannon Murray.

The IMRO Live Venue of the Year Award went to the National Opera House, Wexford.
The winners in the regional categories were:

Dublin – Vicar Street

Rest of Leinster – Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny

Connacht – The Quays, Galway

Munster – Coughlan’s, Cork

Ulster – Voodoo, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Small Live Music Festival 2016 were Sea Sessions and Kilkenny Tradfest respectively. Kilkenny Tradfest takes place again in March 2017.

The Olympia Theatre picked up the award for IMRO Tech Crew of the Year.