Laois musician in high energy Irish band shortlisted for IMRO award

A Laois musician is among the members of a up and coming band just annnounced on the IMRO Album of the Year shortlist.

The RTÉ Choice Music Prize, in association with IMRO and IRMA has announced its shortlist for Irish Album of the Year 2022.

The prestigious prize this year includes three new prizes and Irish Song of the Year announcements later this week on 2FM.

The shortlist for this year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2022, in association with IMRO & IRMA, was announced on Monday, January 9 on RTÉ 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show.

Among the ten finalists is the high octane, irreverent and hugely talented trad band The Mary Wallopers, which includes talented Portlaoise woman Roisin Barrett, daughter of Joe and Sheila Barrett.

Roisin plays bass guitar with The Mary Wallopers (below in action).

The band whose hits include Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice (watch the video below), released their debut album last October and have tours scheduled across Ireland, Europe and North America for 2023.

The full shortlist is as follows:

Anna Mieke – Theatre (Anna Mieke under license to Nettwerk Music Group)
Aoife Nessa Frances – Protector (Partisan Records)
CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (CMATBABY)
Dermot Kennedy – Sonder (Island)
Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia (Partisan Records)
Just Mustard – Heart Under (Partisan Records)
Pillow Queens – Leave the Light On (Royal Mountain Records)
Sorcha Richardson – Smiling Like An Idiot (Faction Records)
The Mary Wallopers – The Mary Wallopers (The Mary Wallopers)
Thumper – Delusions of Grandeur (Eva Magical Music Sounds)

2FM celebrated the announcement of the shortlist with All Irish All Day from 6am to midnight. 2FM’s Tracy Clifford Show will broadcast a week of Choice Music Prize announcements and activities, including further details on the three new prizes and Irish Song of the Year.

Irish Artist of the Year – shortlist Tuesday 10th January
Irish Breakthrough Artist – shortlist Wednesday 11th January
Classic Irish Album – further details Thursday 12th January
Irish Song of the Year – shortlist Friday 13th January
(the public vote for SOTY will open at the end of the week):

Adam Fogarty is Head of Music, RTÉ 2FM. 

“It’s been another year of quality music from Irish artists which we’re looking forward to celebrating on 2FM. The new prizes, particularly Irish Artist of the Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist, along with Irish Song of the Year will ensure that we get to put an even bigger spotlight on incredible Irish artists and recognise their achievements over the last twelve months.”

The Irish Album of the Year 2022, along with the four prizes above, will be announced live from Vicar St on RTÉ 2FM in a special show 7-11pm on Thursday 9th March. The show will feature live performances from some of the shortlisted acts, further details on the line-up to be announced soon.

Tickets are on sale now via https://www.ticketmaster. ie/choice-music-prize-tickets/ artist/1541435

The 18th annual RTÉ Choice Music Prize will once again celebrate the best in Irish recorded music. The Prize has become one of the music-industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005. The Irish Album of the Year award is chosen from a shortlist of ten albums by a panel of eleven Irish music media professionals and industry experts. The list of judges is listed on http://www. choicemusicprize.ie

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The winning AOTY act will receive €10,000, a prize fund which has been provided by The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). All shortlisted acts will receive a specially commissioned award.

RAAP, Culture Ireland, FMC and Minding Creative Minds are also official project partners of the RTE Choice Music Prize.

Through its funding of the Music From Ireland programme, Culture Ireland’s support of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize will be directed towards shortlisted artists, as well as assisting the RTÉ Choice Music Prize “Conversations”.