President Michael D.Higgins has sent his congratulations to Chameleon aka Matthew Harris, who was announced last night as the recipient of the A New Local Hero Award, at the Academy in Dublin.

"I want to extend the warmest congratulations to Matthew Harris – whose stage name is Chameleon – who was announced last night as the recipient of the A New Local Hero Award 2021, which is part of the Irish Music Month initiative, organised by Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, and funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from its Sound & Vision fund," the President said.

"There is so much extraordinary musical talent in Ireland right now, as was confirmed so emphatically, when 25 independent radio stations all over Ireland chose their own Local Hero, as part of Irish Music Month.

"I have no doubt but that the judges must have had an exceptionally difficult job selecting a shortlist of five from those 25 uniquely talented artists – and so, in addition to Chameleon, Carrie Baxter, Fintan McKahey, Leah Moran and Mia Yermeche all deserve our heartiest congratulations.

"We really are in a special moment here in Ireland, with brilliant young, creative artists like all five finalists coming through and delivering works of remarkable imagination and maturity.

"At just 22 years of age, Chameleon really is one of those very special talents. He is a multi-instrumentalist, writer, producer and singer of outstanding creative ability – so it is wonderful to see him being recognised in this important way by a panel of judges from across the music industry – and including experienced and successful artists of the calibre of Ruth-Anne Cunningham and Róisín O.

"The prize is a very valuable one – but most of all, the title of A New Local Hero 2021, which has been conferred on Chameleon, will I am sure open the way for him to move on with confidence to the next level, in what promises to be a wonderfully productive career.

"Well done, Matthew Harris. Well done Chameleon. Long may you flourish as an artist, a writer, a performer and a singer.

"Traoslaím leat agus gach rath ort don todhchaí."

The Irish Music Month project is funded by the BAI under the Sound & Vision scheme and is supported by XL Retail, MCD Productions, IMRO, RAAP and X-Music. The prize includes:

• A payment of €5,000
• A single to be released by the Rubyworks label
• 30 plays each on all 25 participating stations, amounting to a minimum of 750 in all
• €5,000 worth of equipment from X-Music
• An interview in Hot Press and accompanying photoshoot
• Full PR campaign around the release of the single

Of course, the night couldn't have happened without all five brilliant artists, not to mention the brilliant acts that made the national shortlist from 125 musicians after being selected by their local radio station.

Here is the full list of the 25 artists that made the cut for A New Local Hero's final 25:

• 98 FM – Chameleon
• Clare FM – Julie Martin
• Cork’s 96 – Fintan McKahey
• Classic Hits – Eva Campbell
• East Coast FM – Aoife Doyle
• FM104 – Mia Yermeche
• Galway Bay FM – Darragh O’Dea
• Highland Radio – Amy Meehan
• iRadio – Keith Coleman
• KCLR – Exiles
• KFM – Jess Young
• Live 95 – Abby Butler
• LMFM – Amy Tuite
• Midlands 103 – First Day Lions
• Midwest – Con Murphy
• Ocean FM – Whatever Suits
• Radio Kerry – Donal Lucey
• Radio Nova – Laura Elizabeth Hughes
• Red FM – Ruby Ivy
• Shannonside/Northern Sound – The Vibes
• Spin 1038 – Leah Moran
• Spin South West – Pierce feat. Sade
• South East Radio - Ruben Hester
• Tipp FM – Jester
• WLR FM – Carrie Baxter