In the face of tough competition, Lankum were crowned the winners of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Album Of Year at Vicar Street, Dublin last night. The Dublin folk group's acclaimed third album, The Livelong Day, triumphed over projects from Fontaines D.C., Daithí, Junior Brother, Jafaris, Mick Flannery, Maija Sofia, SOAK, Sorcha Richardson and Girl Band, to take home the prestigious prize and a cheque for €10,000 – presented to their manager, Cian Lawless, in their absence.

Our legendary manager Cian with our Choice Award for Album of the Year. Gutted we can't be home to go on the lash with him and all the other phenomenal nominated musicians tonight.

Thanks so much for all the well wishes!

x#lankum #thelivelongday #choiceaward #albumoftheyear pic.twitter.com/hBsUTKLurt

— LANKUM (@LankumDublin) March 6, 2020

Lankum, who are currently on a tour of the US, responded to the news in typical form:

Looks like we went a *teeny* bit overboard on the celebratory cocaine backstage... 😬#moderationiskey pic.twitter.com/tNgbEHZxRc

— LANKUM (@LankumDublin) March 6, 2020

Fans and fellow musicians also took to Twitter to congratulate the band on the major win.

Just feckin thrilled for @LankumDublin and their win, the whole awards in music thing is a bit weird but I'm always grateful to groups like Lankum for ploughing their own furrow and constantly restoring my faith in this industry #choiceprize

— Emma Langford (@ELangfordMusic) March 6, 2020

Huge Congratulations to @LankumDublin on bagging #AlbumOfTheYear for 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘢𝘺 at last night's @choiceprize . Enjoy the Celebrations! #RTEChoicePrize @rte https://t.co/6KxKVdYMbU

— Aiken Promotions (@aikenpromotions) March 6, 2020

Congrats to @LankumDublin on their @choiceprize win in a competitive year. As #StPatricksDay approaches, I’m fond of this on unpacking shamrocky Irishness and the reality of over-priced Ireland, immigration. Déanta in Éireann (‘Made in Ireland’)https://t.co/LON7t5CVkt @aesychlus

— Sinéad Gleeson (@sineadgleeson) March 6, 2020

Lankum starting to emerge in NYC after last nights @choiceprize win. pic.twitter.com/qfT7xIPVwj

— Dave O'Grady (@daveGildedALM) March 6, 2020

"With their new record, The Livelong Day, the group have re-emerged with a deepened sense of maturity and mortality, culminating in a project of uniquely raw intensity – and undoubtedly one of the finest releases of the year," we wrote in our 10-star review of the album last year. Read the full review here.

You can also revisit our original reviews of all the shortlisted albums here.