The results of the Hot Press Readers’ Poll 2020 are in! It turned out to be our biggest poll ever, with in excess of 26,000 voters participating in what is a vital barometer of who and what really matters in Irish and international music. And – in addition to Hozier’s sujperb triumph in the Artist of the Decade category – the big news is that Dermot Kennedy has been confirmed as Ireland’s fastest rising star.

In what is a truly remarkable era for Irish music, Kennedy added to the increasing number of major homegrown success stories with Without Fear, released in October. A brilliant collection of cathartic anthems, the album proved a huge international hit, charting all over Europe and hitting No.1 in both Ireland and the UK. The Hot Press cover star – he featured on the front of the magazine in September 2019 – topped the poll in both the Best Irish Album and Best Debut Irish Album categories with Without Fear, whilst Kennedy also scooped Best Irish Track and Best Irish Male.

Further illustrating the extent of the album’s impact, Kennedy’s musical collaborator Micheál Quinn just missed out on Best Musician behind The Edge. U2, as ever, remain a powerful poll presence, taking a hefty share of votes and landing the gong for Best Live Act. Meanwhile, the Hewson clan are very much the choice of a new generation as well, with Eli and his cohorts in Inhaler snatching the Most Promising Act honours, against fierce opposition from Somebody’s Child.

Elsewhere on the home front, Fontaines D.C. have proven themselves the premier rock act of the moment by taking the Group of the Year prize, whilst Versatile’s remarkable achievement in selling out 3Arena sees them snaffle the gong for Best Hip-Hop Act.

Among international outfits, Billie Eilish’s all-conquering success has continued into 2020, with the teen star releasing the hugely acclaimed theme song to the new Bond movie, No Time To Die. A big hit at Electric Picnic last year, it’s no surprise that Eilish’s massively successful debut, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, has topped the poll in the Best International Album category.

Another homegrown cultural juggernaut, Derry Girls, takes the Best TV Show prize, whilst Martin Scorsese’s masterful The Irishman just missed out on Best Film behind Todd Phillips’ blockbuster Joker. And, now, with the CNN trucks parked outside, reporters assembled from around the globe, and RTÉ about to commence rolling coverage, it’s time to unveil the Hot Press Readers’ Poll results in full…

Irish Album
1. Dermot Kennedy – Without Fear
2. Hozier – Wasteland Baby!
3. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
4. Walking On Cars – Colours
5. Picture This – MDRN LV

International Album
1. Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
2. Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars
3. Bon Iver – I, I
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
5. Dave – Psychodrama

Debut Irish Album
1. Dermot Kennedy – Without Fear
2 . Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
3. Mango X Mathman – Casual Work
4. Junior Brother – Pull The Right Rope
5. Sorcha Richardson – First Prize Bravery

Track
1. Dermot Kennedy – ‘Power Over Me’
2. Hozier – ‘Almost’
3. Fontaines D.C. – ‘Liberty Belle’
4. Picture This – ‘One Night’
5. Kneecap – ‘H.O.O.D.’

Best Live Act
1. U2
2. Snow Patrol
3. Versatile
4. Fontaines DC
5. Glen Hansard

Best Female
1. Imelda May
2. Lisa Hannigan
3. Roisin Murphy
4. Soulé
5. Sorcha Richardson

Best Male
1. Dermot Kennedy
2. Hozier
3. Bono (U2)
4. Danny O’Reilly (The Coronas)
5. Damien Dempsey

Best Songwriter
1. Hozier
2. Bono/U2
3. Damien Dempsey
4. Glen Hansard
5. Conor J O’Brien (Villagers)

Most Promising Act
1. Inhaler
2. Somebody’s Child
3. Aimee
4. David Keenan
5. The Murder Capital
6. Malaki
7. Thanks Brother
8. Brave Giant
9. Junior Brother
10. Lyra

Best Rap/Hip-Hop
1. Versatile
2. Chasing Abbey
3. Kojaque
4. Mango X Mathman
5. Rejjie Snow

Best Dance/Electronic
1. Bicep
2. Laoise
3. Talos
4. New Jackson
5. Or:la

Comedian
1. Tommy Tiernan
2. Tony Cantwell
3. Bernard Casey
4. Aisling Bea
5. Jason Byrne

LOVE OF THE YEAR
1. President Michael D. Higgins
2. The new wave of emerging Irish music
3. Jurgen Klopp
4. Greta Thunberg
5. Billie Eilish

LOATHE OF THE YEAR
1. The cost of rent in Ireland
2. Donald Trump
3. Brexit
4. The Government
5. Boris Johnson

Best Musician
1. Edge
2. Michaél Quinn
3. Danny O’Reilly
4. Colm Mac an Iomaire
5. Gemma Doherty (Saint Sister)

Group of the Year
1. Fontaines D.C.
2. Kodaline
3. Picture This
4. Snow Patrol
5. Walking On Cars

Best Folk/Trad
1. Christy Moore
2. Mick Flannery
3. Daithi
4. David Keenan
5. The Gloaming

TV Programme
1. Derry Girls
2. The Young Offenders
3. Chernobyl
4. Stranger Things
5. Black Mirror

Game
1. FIFA 20
2. Tetris 99
3. Football Manager 20
4. Medieval
5. Outer Wilds

Best Book
1. Vicky Phelan (with Naomi Linehan)– Overcoming
2. Joe Duffy and Freya Clements – Children Of The Troubles
3. Edna O’Brien – Girl
4. Emma Dabiri – Don’t Touch My Hair
5. Ronan Hession – Leonard And Hungry Paul

Best Film
1. Joker
2. The Irishman
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood
5. Green Book