It was a night of high drama at Vicar Street as the relatively unknown Ships snaffled the Choice Music Prize.

While this year's list conspicuously lacked major names, there was still a sense of euphoria when Ships were announced as winners. The winning album is entitled Precession, and the hope is now that it will attract renewed attention – and sales. The judging panel, made up of Irish music media professionals, deliberated at length tonight before choosing the winning album.

Ships received a cheque for €10,000, a prize which has been provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) – as well as a specially-commissioned award.

Meanwhile, the winner of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year was also announced with Chasing Abbey lifting the prize for their song “That Good Thing”. This award was decided by the public via the RTÉ and Choice Music Prize websites.

The sold-out event in Vicar Street was hosted by RTÉ 2FM’s Eoghan McDermott and was broadcast live on the station, on a specially extended Louise McSharry show.

RTÉ2 will broadcast a one-hour TV highlights programme of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize featuring performances from the acts and interviews by Bláthnaid Treacy on Sunday March 18th at 11pm.

To listen to the album, simply use the play below:

The full shortlist for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize was:

Come On Live Long - In The Still (self released)
Marlene Enright - Placemats and Second Cuts (self released)
Fangclub – Fangclub (Universal)
Lankum - Between the Earth and Sky (Rough Trade)
James Vincent McMorrow - True Care (Faction Records)
New Jackson - From Night to Night (All City)
Otherkin – OK (Rubyworks)
Fionn Regan - The Meetings of the Waters (Abbey Records)
Ships – Precession (Ships Music)
Talos - Wild Alee (Feel Good Lost)