(May 1, 2009)

Ireland's top traditional, folk and Celtic music industry stars will be recognised and awarded for their contribution to the industry at "Ireland's Music Awards" which will take place in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co, Mayo this summer on the night of Saturday August 1st 2009. The event will take place as part of "The World Fleadh" international Irish & Celtic music festival, but is a stand alone event and is expected to draw massive crowds to Castlebar, Co. Mayo for the Gala Ceremony.

The event, which is the only national awards for Irish traditional, folk and Celtic music in Ireland, promises to be a star studded gathering featuring the top names in the music business. The event will be hosted in the 2,200 seat newly built Royal Theatre Castlebar, Co. Mayo, where traditional music lovers will gather to watch the top names in the business take to the stage to receive their accolades.

Producer of ‘Ireland's Music Awards', Eric Cunningham commented on the significance of the awards:

"It seemed a shame that before now the artists and acts who continually excel within the Irish traditional, folk and Celtic music genres were not recognised and honoured publicly and annually at a ceremony in Ireland. After all much of this music emanates from Ireland. There had been similar award ceremonies in the past which unfortunately were discontinued while there are other awards at present which deal solely with the more purist aspect of traditional music or refer to Irish traditional, folk and Celtic music in a token way. 'Ireland's Music Awards' however will become an awards ceremony where the best performers, as voted by the general public, will be honoured year after year in each of the aforementioned classes and where both conventional and unorthodox styles have a platform. This exclusive event will comprise performances by the 'who's who' within the Irish traditional, folk and Celtic music business while the recipients of each award will be announced on the night."

Tickets go on sale on May 15th 2009. Nominees, details on voting and further information will be announced on the website www.IrelandsMusicAwards.com