Portlaoise pub shortlisted as Hot Press Live Venue of the Year alongside Dublin's 3Arena

A popular Portlaoise pub is putting Laois on the map nationwide as a great spot for live music and events.

Kavanagh's Pub Portlaoise has made it to the top 25 for the Hot Press Live Venue of the Year 2018 alongside locations like Dublin's 3Arena, Whelan's, Vicar Street and Dolan's in Limerick.

This is a huge achievement for the Laois venue which has played host to acts like Picture This, Hamsandwich, The Riptide Movement and Damien Dempsey to name a few. 

The Main Street venue also boasts an impressive line up of comedy and owner PJ Kavanagh is heavily involved with local events such as The Old Fort Quarter Festival.

PJ told the Leinster Express he is delighted the venue is one of the top 25 in Ireland and some big acts are going to be announced for the venue very soon.

"It is great for the Venue, Portlaoise and Laois to be recognised as one of the top venues in Ireland.

"It's a credit to the production and bar staff here in Kavanaghs, the customers who enjoy their nights here and of course to the artists who must enjoy coming back here time and time again.

"And we're quite excited to be on the verge of announcing a few very interesting acts in Kavanagh's over the next few months! Watch this space!" he said.

Now that Kavanagh's has made it through to the top 25 it is up to the public to get behind the local venue to bring the title of Live Venue of the Year 2018 to the county for the first time. 

Go to the Hotpress website here to vote.

Watch Picture This performing live at Kavanagh's in September, 2016.

Watch HamsandwicH live at at Kavanagh's Courtyard venue here.

The full shortlist:

Bagots Hutton Dublin
Bello Bar Dublin
The Black Box Belfast
Cork Opera House Cork
Coughlan's Cork
Dolans Warehouse Limerick
The Grand Social Dublin
The Harbour Bar Bray
INEC Killarney
Kavanagh's Portlaoise
Mike the Pies Listowel, Co. Kerry
Monroe's Galway
The National Concert Hall Dublin
The Olympia Theatre Dublin
Roisin Dubh Galway
The Royal Theatre Castlebar
The Set Theatre Kilkenny
The Spirit Store Dundalk
The Theatre Royal Waterford
Tramline Dublin
Ulster Hall Belfast
Vicar Street Dublin
Whelan's Dublin
The Workman's Club Dublin
3Arena Dublin

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