Mount Charles lands music industry gong

The awards will be presented at the RDS, Dublin on Friday February 19.

Mount Charles has been one of Ireland’s most influential music industry figures, responsible for initiating some of the country’s first outdoor concerts, and putting his Slane Castle venue on the map worldwide as the home of Rock n’ Roll in Ireland.

Since 1981, Slane has hosted some of Ireland’s largest outdoor concerts featuring the world’s greatest live performers, including Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Queen, Robbie Williams, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Oasis and REM.

U2 are the only band to perform there three times - playing support to Thin Lizzy, who headlined Slane’s first show in 1981. In 1984 U2 lived in the Castle while recording The Unforgettable Fire album. The castle’s drawing room was converted into a recording studio for them and one of the videos for ‘Pride’ was filmed in the ballroom originally created for George IV's State Visit in 1821.

Previous winners of this award include Louis Walsh, Paul McGuinness, Phil Coulter, John Hughes, Dave Fanning, Larry Gogan, Bill Whelan, Jim Aiken and Niall Stokes.