The Choice Music Prize live event was on last night in Dublin. I heard some of the event on Tom Dunne’s Pet Sounds show on Today FM. This Irish music award was established last year and is considered to be the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize in Britain. Last year it was won by Julie Feeney for her album 13 Songs. The award is for the best Irish album of 2006.
The shortlist for the prize was:
Director - We Thrive On Big Cities
The Divine Comedy - Victory for the Comic Muse
Duke Special - Songs From the Deep Forest
The Immediate - In Towers & Clouds
David Kitt - Not Fade Away
Messiah J & The Expert - Now This I Have To Hear
Fionn Regan - The End Of History
Republic Of Loose - Aaagh!
Si Schroeder - Coping Mechanisms
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

Last night the prize was won by the Divine Comedy for their latest album Victory for the Comic Muse. This was somewhat of a surprise win as Duke Special had been tipped to win. Neil Hannon was literally speechless when the winner was announced.