Ireland's most esteemed and innovative live music venues were honoured at the Sugar Club in Dublin last night, as the winners of the 2024 IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards were revealed at a special live ceremony.

Featuring performances by hotly tipped homegrown talent like Big Sleep, EFÉ, and Qbanaa, the event – hosted by Paul McLoone – saw venues festivals, and crews across the country recognised for the vital work they do in providing a platform for brilliant live music. With representatives from across the industry in attendance, the night also featured speeches from IMRO's Chairperson, Eleanor McEvoy, as well as Hot Press's very own Stuart Clark.

Qbanaa at the IMRO Awards 2024 at The Sugar Club. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

As IMRO – the Irish Music Rights Organisation – states on its website, the awards "recognise Irish venues that deliver the very best standards in live music entertainment."

Over 20,000 IMRO members were asked to nominate their top choices – with venues judged on their "ambience, staging, sound/lighting facilities, diversity of music programming, accessibility for people with disabilities, venue staff and management and the work they undertake in promoting the venue and its programme of music events."

Among the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the special Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year award to 3Olympia Theatre – as voted for through the Hot Press Readers' Poll.

Mike The Pies in Listowel and Dolan's in Limerick were also honoured with Hot Press Special Commendation awards.

IMRO Awards 2024 at The Sugar Club. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

In his introduction to the Hot Press portion of the night, Stuart Clark said: "As a journalist, I get to meet a lot of musicians and they all say the same thing – Irish venues are among the best in the world.

"Talking to Matt from The National, he noted how they’d progressed here from a pub gig, The Cobblestone; to a club gig, Whelan’s; a theatre gig, the 3Olympia; and then on to the 3Arena. At every stage, he said, the professionalism and warmth of the welcome they encountered was off the scale.

"And I’ve heard the same thing from Noel Gallagher, Dave Grohl, Paloma Faith, Florence and The Machine, Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Lewis Capaldi – the list goes on and on.

"It also strikes me just how important local venues are for young artists, starting off. Back in 1989, it wasn’t the Hammersmith Odeon or Madison Square Garden that the Cranberry Saw Us were desperate to play – it was Cruise’s Hotel, The Glentworth and the Theatre Royal. Before they conquered the world, they conquered Limerick and that’s still the same today. Young Dundalk bands dream of playing The Spirit Store; the Holy Grail in Kilkenny is Cleere’s… and that’s repeated all over the country.

"Venues encourage a sense of community, among both artists and fans, they generate income and jobs and contribute to our cultural well-being. Simply put, they are the engine that keeps the Irish music industry ticking over.

"It’s also fantastic to see so many of them donating their stages – and staff – to the numerous Gaza solidarity gigs that have been taking place, all around Ireland. They send out a strong and important message.

"Finally, let us not forget the brilliant crews who make it all happen – without you, no gigs, no tours, no fun! Like artists, we’ve seen people go from their local venues to some of the biggest stages in the world – the latest being the Sphere in Las Vegas where Joe O’Herlihy and Co. have played an absolute blinder."

IMRO Awards 2024 at The Sugar Club. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming issue of Hot Press, out this month, in which we salute some of Ireland's top spots for live music in a special Venue Feature.

See the full list of winners below:

National: The Imperial, Cavan
Dublin: Vicar Street
Rest of Leinster: Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray
Ulster: McCaffertys Bar, Donegal
Munster: Dolan's
Connacht: Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo
Small Music Festival of the Year: Beyond The Pale
Musical Festival of the Year: All Together Now
Tech Crew of the Year: Electric Picnic
Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year: 3Olympia Theatre
Hot Press Special Commendation: Mike The Pies
Hot Press Special Commendation: Dolan's

IMRO Awards 2024 at The Sugar Club. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.