Denver named top country entertainer

Mike Denver was voted Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards, in association with the Irish Farmers Journal.

Mike won the highly-coveted award by public vote through the Irish Farmers Journal website. Viewers also chose Wagon Wheel as Ireland’s All Time Favourite Country Song, a category that reflects an array of hit tunes over the past years.

Wagon Wheel singer Nathan Carter took home the award for Live Act Of The Year while Jimmy Buckley was awarded Male Artist of the Year. Hillbilly Girl singer Lisa McHugh was honoured as Female Artist of the Year and the award for Newcomer of the Year was presented to Tyrone woman Cliona Hagan.

Galway man Mike Denver also took home the Album of the Year award for his record Cut Loose and former D-Side front man turned country singer Derek Ryan was announced as Songwriter of the Year.

The Three Amigos’ star Robert Mizzell won Video Of The Year for his solo hit Day Job. Michael English beat off stiff competition to be crowned Country Dance Act Of The Year. Founder of Ritz Record, the country music label responsible for the success of many of Ireland’s top artists, Mick Clerkin was presented with the Industry Award.

Big Tom McBride was the first person to be inducted into the Irish country music Hall of Fame. Big Tom was presented with the honour by legendary saxophonist Paddy Cole. Champion and chaplain of country music Fr Brian D’Arcy was on hand to award the queen of country music Philomena Begley with her Lifetime Achievement Award after which the Tyrone native sang her hit I Ain't Over The Hill.

The star-studded awards show, broadcast live on RTÉ One, was hosted by Daniel O’Donnell and viewers were treated to ten live performances including Big Tom’s rendition of one of his hit tunes Going Out The Same Way You Came In and Marty Mone’s You Tube sensation Hit The Diff.

The RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards, sponsored by the Irish Farmers Journal, was broadcast on RTÉ One and was organised in partnership with the Irish Country Music Association (ICMA) - the body that represents the biggest names in country music. Earlier this evening RTÉ Radio 1 treated listeners to additional performances from a selection of country music stars in The RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards Backstage presented by Shay Byrne.

The RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards are available to watch on-demand on RTÉ Player, along with RTÉ Player's celebratory RTÉ Irish County Music Awards collection including performances from Entertainer of the Year nominees, host Daniel O'Donnell and the full series of Stetsons and Stilettos.