3Arena named Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year

3Arena has been named as the winner of the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year. The venue was rebranded and refurbished in September by the operators, Live Nation, following the purchase of O2 by Three Mobile.

At the Live Music Venue Awards, held in IMRO's Dublin headquarters, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes also presented a special award to Sligo's 5th On Teeling, for its contribution to the development of a local scene in the North West, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award to Whelan's. The Dublin venue has just completed its 25th Anniversary year, during which sell-out appearances by Damien Rice, The Frames and Ed Sheeran proved to be major highlights.

"Live music is more important than ever for musicians and bands – so it is crucial they have the best possible venues to play in. The IMRO Live Music Venue Awards ceremony is a fantastic platform for recognising all of the amazing work that is happening across the country, in creating what are essential opportunities for musicians.

"Great venues are really important in creating scenes and both 5th On Teeling in Sligo and Whelan's in Dublin – who are the recipients of a special Lifetime Achievement Award from Hot Press to mark the end of their 25th Anniversary celebrations – fit that description perfectly.

"The overall winner of the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year is 3Arena, in Dublin, which of course was refurbished and rebranded during the year. 3Arena is widely recognised in the business as one of the greatest music venues in the world. It has brought the presentation of live music to a new level of sophistication here, setting standards that the whole live music industry in Ireland can both benefit and learn from. They are hugely deserving of this accolade."

Stokes also referred to the immense contribution of Coughlan's to the developing scene in Cork. "They were up here last year. And they will be again,” he added.

Meanwhile, the IMRO award for National Live Music Venue of the Year 2014 (via public vote) went to Dolan's, Limerick. The award was presented to Mick Dolan, who has been at the helm of the venue operations since it opened.

Other winners in the regional categories included:

Dublin – Vicar St, Dublin
Rest of Leinster – Cleere's Bar & Theatre, Kilkenny
Munster – University Concert Hall, Limerick
Ulster – Voodoo Venue, Letterkenny
Connacht – Matt Molloy's, Mayo

Also nabbing accolades for IMRO Live Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Best Small Live Music Festival 2014 were Electric Picnic and Kilkenny Roots Festival respectively.

Of the annual awards voted by over 10,000 IMRO members, Keith Donald, IMRO Chairman said: "This is our annual chance to give a really big thank-you to promoters and venues across the country. The work they do is invaluable, as young bands and artists can't build up an audience without them”.

Performances on the night came from The Minutes, Lethal Dialect and Cork newcomer, Jack O' Rourke.

Details of the other winners at the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards are
Full report and photos from all the nights festivities to follow.