SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR MUSIC FANS LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR

"Thousands of votes poured in," Duan Stokes of hotpress.com, where the voting was conducted, said. "Hundreds of venues featured, in what is a testament to the huge appetite Irish people retain for live music. The competition was intense. And, in the final analysis, the people have produced a really interesting and varied shortlist that reflects the full range of venues where important gigs are taking place throughout the year – from a local venue like The Backroom in Navan up to the O2."

In addition to The Backroom, other interesting newcomers include Baker's Place in Limerick, The Cherry Tree in Walkinstown, Draíocht in Blanchardstown, The Quad in Cork, Royal Theatre in Castelbar and Set Theatre in Kilkenny.

A fresh round of voting now takes place that will decide the winner of the public's Live Music Venue of the Year, with a number of other Special Commendations also on the cards. The winners will be announced on December 1st, along with the winners of the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year.

The full list of shortlisted nominations is, in alphabetical order:

The Academy, Dublin
The Backroom, Navan, Co.Meath
Baker's Place, Limerick
Button Factory, Dublin
Cherry Tree, Walkinstown, Dublin
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
De Barra's, Clonakilty
Dolan's, Limerick
Draiocht, Blanchardstown, Dublin
Glor, Ennis, Co.Clare
INEC, Killarney, Co.Kerry
The O2, Dublin
The Quad, Cork
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co.Mayo
Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co.Louth
Tripod, Dublin
Vicar Street, Dublin
Whelan's, Dublin

To vote for your Live Music Venue of the Year, go here and cast your vote.