KNEECAP win big in the Hot Press Readers' Poll 2025 – see the full results

Following a phenomenal year for KNEECAP – with the release of their debut album, their multi-award-winning feature film, and international sold-out shows – the Belfast trio have yet another major cause for celebration: as they sweep the boards in a hugely impressive five categories in this year's highly competitive Hot Press Readers' Poll!

This year's edition of the Hotties proved to be one of the most closely-fought in recent memory – with over 25,000 votes cast over the past few weeks, from Hot Press readers and music fans of every sonic persuasion. Following some arduous tallying, we can now present the full list of winners – as selected by you...

The avalanche of support for KNEECAP was colossal – with the group coming out on top in four of the music categories (Debut Album of the Year; Live Act; Group of the Year; and Best Rap/Hip-Hop). They also scored the top spot in the Best Film poll, for Rich Peppiatt's award-winning feature film Kneecap, inspired by, written with, and starring the group.

Of course, KNEECAP weren't the only Irish act to impress in this year's Readers' Poll. 2024 was similarly spectacular for Hozier – as the Co. Wicklow artist topped charts around the world with his mega-hit 'Too Sweet'. Fans were eager to show their support in the Hotties too, with the artist also known as Andrew Hozier-Byrne winning Track Of The Year (for 'Too Sweet'), Individual Artist of the Year, and Best Songwriter.

Despite fierce competition from KNEECAP's Fine Art, Fontaines D.C. also managed to clinch the Album of the Year accolade, with their internationally acclaimed LP Romance.

Other major highlights of the Hot Press Readers' Poll include: CMAT being crowned Irish Music's Groundbreaking Woman of 2024 for a second consecutive year; Muireann Bradley claiming Most Promising Act of the Year; and Sharon Shannon securing the Best Musician honour.

CMAT at Fairview Park Shot by Patricia Rosingana (xbadbon)

The Readers' Poll also features a thrilling selection of talent in the individual genre categories – including No.1 positions for Belters Only (Best Dance/Electronic) and Christy Moore (Best Folk/Trad).

But it's not just musicians who are celebrated in the Hotties. Tommy Tiernan (last year's runner-up) has been named Irish Comedian of the Year – while Fergal D’Arcy and Beat 102-103's Ava Somers hold onto their top spots in the National and Regional Radio DJ categories, respectively.

There was good news too for Sharon Horgan, whose brilliant Dublin-based Bad Sisters romped home in the TV category, ahead of Baby Reindeer and Say Nothing – offering another endorsement of the extraordinary explosion in Irish creativity that is currently providing so much enjoyment and entertainment for us all.

Elsewhere, in brilliant news for Hot Press Books, President Michael D. Higgins' acclaimed Power To The People: The Hot Press Years has been voted Best Book – striking a suitably upbeat note in what is Michael D's final year of his second term as President...

Finally, in the International Album category, there is the remarkable fact that the top three places are occupied by women, with Billie Eilish's superb Hit Me Hard and Soft being followed home by Sabrina Carpenter's Short N' Sweet and Charli XCX's widely-acclaimed Brat. A sign of the times? We hope...

See the full results of the Hot Press Readers' Poll 2025 below:

Album of the Year (Irish)

1. Fontaines D.C. - Romance
2. Kneecap - Fine Art
3. The Coronas - Thoughts And Observations
4. a lazarus soul - No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens
5. Lyra - Lyra
6. Snow Patrol – The Forest Is The Path
7. Mary Coughlan - Repeat Rewind
8. The Script – Satellites
9. Susan O’Neill - Now In A Minute
10. Damien Dempsey - Hold Your Joy

Debut Album of the Year (Irish)

1. Kneecap - Fine Art
2. Pa Sheehy – Maybe It Was All For This
3. NewDad- Madra
4. Lemoncello – Lemoncello
5. Curtisy – What Was The Question
6. Gurriers - Come and See
7. SPRINTS - Letter To Self
8. Dea Matrona - For Your Sins
9. Niamh Bury - Yellow Roses
10. Ahmed, With Love – COMMA, FULL STOP.

Kneecap at SSE Arena, Belfast (Photo: Sloan Creative Media / hotpress.com)

Track of the Year (Irish)

1. Hozier - Too Sweet
2. Kneecap - Fine Art
3. Fontaines D.C. - Favourite
4. Amble - Lonely Island
5. Dermot Kennedy - Lucky
6. The Coronas - Speak Up
7. CMAT - Aw, Shoot!
8. Bricknasty feat. F3miii - mouthy
9. Susan O'Neill - Tijuana
10. Kabin Crew, Lisdoonvarna Crew - The Spark

Live Act

1. Kneecap
2. Hozier
3. Fontaines D.C.
4. The Coronas
5. CMAT
6. Amble
7. Bricknasty
8. The Wolfe Tones
9. Christy Moore
10. Snow Patrol

Kneecap at Vicar Street. Copyright Jason Doherty.

Group of the Year

1. Kneecap
2. Fontaines D.C.
3. The Coronas
4. The Mary Wallopers
5. Kingfishr
6. The Script
7. Amble
8. Lankum
9. The Saw Doctors
10. NewDad

Individual Artist of the Year

1. Hozier
2. CMAT
3. Dermot Kennedy
4. Christy Moore
5. Mary Coughlan
6. Lyra
7. Damien Dempsey
8. Moncrieff
9. Jazzy
10. Niamh Regan

Hozier at Marlay Park, 2024. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Irish Music's Groundbreaking Woman of 2024

1. CMAT
2. Jazzy
3. Roisin O
4. Lyra
5. Aby Coulibaly
6. Imelda May
7. Moya Brennan
8. Mary Coughlan
9. Gemma Hayes
10. Susan O’Neill

Most Promising Act of The Year

1. Muireann Bradley
2. RÓIS
3. BIIRD
4. Chris Cresham
5. CamrinWatsin
6. Calum Agnew
7. Cardinals
8. Cliffords
9. Skinner
10. Ahmed, With Love.

Muireann Bradley album launch at Workmans's Cellar - copyright Patrik Meier

Best Dance/Electronic (Irish)

1. Belters Only
2. Bicep
3. Caoimhe
4. Kettama
5. Tommy Holohan
6. Or:la
7. Efa O'Neill
8. CamrinWatsin
9. Kormac
10. Cailin

Best Rap/Hip Hop (Irish)

1. KNEECAP
2. Bricknasty
3. KhakiKid
4. Curtisy
5. Kojaque
6. God Knows
7. Ahmed, With Love.
8. Jordan Adetunji
9. Alex Gough
10. Travy & Elzzz

Best Folk/Trad (Irish)

1. Christy Moore
2. The Mary Wallopers
3. Lankum
4. Macdara Yeates
5. Emma Langford
6. The Scratch
7. Susan O’Neill
8. John Spillane
9. The Henry Girls
10. Lisa O'Neill

Christy Moore at the Iveagh Gardens. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Best Songwriter

1. Andrew Hozier Byrne
2. Cian Ducrot
3. Dermot Kennedy
4. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (CMAT)
5. Grian Chatten, Conor Curley, Carlos O'Connell, Conor Deegan and Tom Coll (Fontaines D.C.)
6. Mick Flannery
7. Damien Dempsey
8. Danny O'Reilly, Graham Knox, Conor Egan (The Coronas)
9. Glen Hansard
10. Eleanor McEvoy

Best Musician

1. Sharon Shannon
2. Liam Ó Maonlaí
3. Roisin Ó
4. Finbar Furey
5. Wallis Bird
6. Susan O'Neill
7. John Spillane
8. Radie Peat
9. Dónal Lunny
10. Conor Brady

Comedian of the Year (Irish)

1. Tommy Tiernan
2. Aisling Bea
3. Dara Ó Briain
4. Deirdre O'Kane
5. Joanne McNally
6. Chris Kent
7. Emma Doran
8. Jason Byrne
9. Vittorio Angelone
10. David O'Doherty

Tommy Tiernan

Best Radio DJ (National)

1. Fergal D'Arcy (RTÉ 2FM Appearances)
2. John Creedon (RTÉ Radio 1)
3. Fiachna O Bhraonáin (RTÉ Radio 1)
4. Dave Moore (Today FM)
5. Tracy Clifford (2FM)
6. Jenny Greene (RTÉ 2FM)
7. Ian Dempsey (Today FM)
8. Dave Fanning (RTÉ 2FM/RTÉ Gold)
9. Allison Curtis (Today FM)
10. Dan Hegarty (RTÉ 2FM)

Best Radio DJ (Local & Regional)

1. Ava Somers (Beat 102-103)
2. Michaela Hayes (Spin 1038/ Spin SW)
3. Colm Hayes (Classic Hits)
4. Marty Miller (Radio Nova)
5. Stevie G (Red FM)
6. Gemma Bradley (BBC Radio Ulster)
7. Fionnuala Corbett (iRadio)
8. Martin Bridgeman (KCLR)
9. Louise Tighe (FM 104)
10. Kayte O’Malley (Galway Bay FM)

Ava Somers

Best Film (Irish and International)

1. Kneecap
2. Small Things Like These
3. Gladiator II
4. Conclave
5. Dune 2
6. The Substance
7. That They May Face the Rising Sun
8. Anora
9. Zone of Interest
10. Challengers

Best TV Show (Irish and International)

1. Bad Sisters
2. Baby Reindeer
3. Say Nothing
4. The Penguin
5. Slow Horses
6. The Traitors
7. The Bear
8. Squid Games
9. One Day
10. Curb Your Enthusiasm

Bad Sisters

Best Book (Irish and International)

1. Power To The People - Michael D. Higgins
2. The Women Behind the Door - Roddy Doyle
3. Intermezzo - Sally Rooney
4. Long Island - Colm Tóibín
5. The Heart in Winter - Kevin Barry
6. Heart, Be at Peace - Donal Ryan
7. Wild Houses - Colin Barrett
8. Seaborne - Nuala O'Connor
9. American Mother – Column McCann with Diane Foley
10. The Amendments - Niamh Mulvey

Best Album (International)

1. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft
2. Sabrina Carpenter - Short n’ Sweet
3. Charli XCX - Brat
4. Wunderhorse - Midas
5. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude To Ecstasy
6. St. Vincent - All Born Screaming
7. Tyler The Creator - Chromakopia
8. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future
9. English Teacher - This Could Be Texas
10. Clairo - Charm

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft