Van Morrison congratulates Snow Patrol for winning NI Music Prize

To celebrate Snow Patrol winning the Oh Yeah Legend award at this year's Northern Ireland Music Prize awards show, Van Morrison surprised the band with a congratulatory video that played as they received their award.

“Congratulations on your music legends award," Morrison said in the video. "You are great ambassadors for Northern Ireland and I hope you have a great evening. All the best.”

The NI Music Prize is an annual awards show that celebrates new and established music from Northern Ireland. This year's show was held in Belfast, where Snow Patrol held a sold-out show at Ulster Hall on 7 November.

Snow Patrol were honoured with the Oh Yeah Legend award, which sees them join a list of peers and fellow musicians that includes Stiff Little Fingers, The Undertones, Ash and Terri Hooley. The award presentation was made by Stuart Fleming from PRS for Music and the band were welcomed on stage by long term friend Mike Edgar, who described them as “a band that have done so much for Northern Ireland.”

Snow Patrol has given us a lot of enjoyment," Edgar said. "They are a band with a social conscience. Their legacy will be investment in people and community and the music, love and enjoyment they have shared with all of us through songs like ‘Life on Earth,’ ‘Run,’ ‘Chocolate’ [and] ‘Just Say Yes.’ They are truly inspirational and their place in history is guaranteed.”

Read this summer's Hot Press cover story with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol here.