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The Irish Music Rights Organisation has announced the shortlist for the second annual IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. The awards recognise Irish venues which provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment. Over 400 venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 6,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top picks in an online poll. Venues are judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.

The awards acknowledge the efforts made by live music venues in providing quality entertainment for the Irish public and the role they play in developing and nurturing the music community in Ireland.

Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in the following regions: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connaught, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan).

There will also be a special Hot Press Readers Award for Best Venue, as voted by Hot Press magazine readers. This will give music fans the opportunity to support their favourite live music venues across Ireland.

The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 will take place on Tuesday, December 1st at IMRO Headquarters in Dublin.

**** We have a limited number of guest list places set aside IMRO members interested in attending this event. If you would like to attend please send
names to keith.johnson@imro.ie ASAP. Successful applicants will be notified by email on Thursday 26th November. *****

The nominees for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 are (in alphabetical order):

DUBLIN
CrawDaddy
The Olympia Theatre
The O2
Vicar Street
Whelan’s

REST OF LEINSTER
The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath
The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare
Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny

MUNSTER
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Dolans Warehouse, Limerick
The Everyman Theatre, Cork
INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Pavilion, Cork

CONNAUGHT
Campbells Tavern, Headford, Galway
The Crane Bar, Galway
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Town Hall Theatre, Galway

ULSTER (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
McGrorys, Culduff, Co. Donegal
Ramor Theatre, Cavan