at IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards

www.kilkennytradfest.com

Kilkenny Tradfest is delighted to have received the award for ‘Best Small Live Music Festival’ at this year’s IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. The prestigious awards, which took place last night (Tuesday 21st February) at the Irish Music Rights Organisation’s (IMRO) headquarters in Dublin, honoured festival promoters and venue owners whose commitment passion and support for live music throughout the country enables artists to continue making music the public can enjoy.

The competition and standard was extremely high across all categories, Kilkenny Tradfest was up against ten other leading festivals, including Other Voices, Dublin Fringe Festival and Doolin Folk Festival, to name but a few. The Kilkenny Tradfest team who attended the awards ceremony were thrilled with the award and believe it demonstrates the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the festival.

Commenting on the award, Malcolm Noonan, Kilkenny Tradfest Chairperson said, “To say we are delighted to win Best Small Live Music Festival at this year’s IMRO awards is a major understatement. We were pleased to be nominated in the first instance, but to have received the award is such a huge honour. Over the past five years the festival has gone from strength to strength and this can be attributed to many factors, but the support we receive locally is extremely important, as well as the support from our sponsors, we couldn’t do it without them.”

Mr Noonan continued, “The award last night is not just an achievement for all of us who are involved in Kilkenny Tradfest, it is a major achievement for Kilkenny. We are fast becoming Ireland’s music festival destination, and this can only be a good thing, with the local economy benefiting as a result. We would like to also congratulate The Watergate Theatre on winning ‘Rest of Leinster Live Music Venue of the Year’ and The Set Theatre for its nomination. Hopefully at next year’s ceremony Kilkenny will take home even more awards!”

Singer, songwriter and musical sensation, Eleanor McEvoy, is scheduled for Kilkenny Tradfest 2017 (16th – 19th March) and she attended last night’s awards ceremony, she said, “I would like to congratulate Kilkenny Tradfest on their fantastic win! It’s great to see festivals of this size being recognised for their invaluable contribution to the music sector in Ireland. Live music festivals play a vital role in keeping music alive and also remind us of our musical heritage and roots. I can’t wait to play Kilkenny Tradfest on St Patrick’s Day – its set to be a great occasion and I’m honoured to be involved.”

Kilkenny Tradfest is this year celebrating its fifth anniversary and has once again exceeded all expectations, with some of the country’s most influential and acclaimed musicians set to play in Kilkenny City over the St Patrick’s Day weekend. Bulmers is once again the title sponsor at the festival and this years’ highlights include; Paul Brady (2017 headline act), Eleanor McEvoy, Beoga, Ushers Island, Pauline Scanlon, Declan Sinnott & Vickie Keating and The Voice Squad, to name but a few.

For further information please see www.kilkennytradfest.com