The Allingham Arms Hotel in Bundoran, Co. Donegal has won the Irish Music Rights Organisation Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2023 after a public vote.
The short list of nominees was selected by over 19,000 IMRO members, and winners in the regional categories include Dublin - The Workman's Club, Rest of Leinster - The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Connacht - Monroe’s, Galway, Munster - Dolan’s, Limerick, Ulster - McCafferty’s, Donegal.
Also presented with awards on the night for IMRO Music Festival of the Year and IMRO Small Music Festival 2023, were Electric Picnic and Wexford Spiegeltent Festival respectively.
Speaking at the ceremony at the Sugar Club, Dublin on Tuesday night, Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson, said, "Enormous praise is due to each of our award winners tonight.
"These venues have been recognised for their excellence and for their contribution to live music across Ireland after a very difficult few years. Huge congratulations to you all."
The crew of Wexford Spiegeltent Festival also picked up the award for IMRO Tech Crew of the Year.
The IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music accolade was awarded this year to Dermot Lambert, musician, Blink frontman, host of Garageland on RTÉ 2XM, and founder/CEO of Garageland.
There were also special commendations for Mike the Pies in Listowel, The Sound House in Dublin, and the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year for 2023 to the 3Olympia.
Safe Gigs Ireland attended the ceremony attendance on the night, Safe Gigs Ireland is an initiative to make gigs and nightlife safer, for everyone attended the event, which included performances from Negro Impacto, Bricknasty, Skinner and DJ Mona Lxsa.
IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 Winners
IMRO National Live Venue of the Year 2023 – Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
IMRO Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 – The Workman's Club
IMRO Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 – The Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
IMRO Connacht Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 – Monroe’s, Galway
IMRO Munster Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 –Dolan’s, Limerick
IMRO Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year 2023 – McCafferty’s, Donegal
IMRO Music Festival of the Year 2023 – Electric Picnic
IMRO Small Music Festival of the Year 2023 – Wexford Spiegeltent Festival
IMRO Tech Crew of the Year Award 2023 – Wexford Spiegeltent Festival
IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music – Dermot Lambert.
Hot Press Live Venue of the Year for 2023 – 3Olympia
