IMRO Recognise Contribution Of Hot Press Ahead Of Irish Music Month On East Coast FM

The founders of Hot Press magazine Niall Stokes and Mairin Sheehy, have been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to the Irish Music Industry Award by IMRO.

Last night at @RadioDaysIrl, IMRO took the opportunity to present awards in special recognition of support to Irish music. Congratulations to Niall Stokes & Mairin Sheehy of @hotpress, @CorksRedFM, Ronan Collins, @clairebeck1052, @djrayc & @LouiseTighe 💿 https://t.co/AY8DgPuLgZ

— IMRO (@IMROireland) February 17, 2023

The award is in recognition of "their longstanding support for Irish music creators through their various publishing activities, music showcase platforms, lobbying efforts and trailblazing initiatives over many years."

It comes ahead of  Irish Music Month on Independent Radio across Ireland in partnership with Hot Press Magazine.

We’ve dedicated March as Irish Music Month and we’re playing more Irish music than ever. 

A New Local Hero Talent search will see a band, or solo artist win an overall 10K prize fund, get their song released and have their music played on 25 independent radio stations across the country.

The four finalists for East Coast FM have been announced: 

Drying Weather formed in late 2019
A 4 piece band from Dublin with a Wicklow angle - over the course of the last few
years they have been working with Kilcoole native and producer Eoin Whitfield
(from EHCO and Enemies) and released a series of singles. Their original, fuzzy
acoustic brand of alternative rock layered with vocal harmony and twinkling reverb
adds up to a curiously addictive sound.

The Monadnocks
Tom and Lily - Father and daughter duo from Bray.
Tom has been an amateur musician for years, putting his dreams of a musical career on
hold to raise a family. With a dusty suitcase full of unreleased material, he hopes to
collaborate with - and pass on his music talents to his aspiring daughter who is now
blossoming into an artist of her own.

Ella Olsen
Ella Olsen is a student from Aughrim Co. Wicklow. She has a passion for music,
songwriting and her dream is to one day be known for her writing. The lyrics to the
songs she loves and their deeper meanings have always intrigued her, and that has
sparked the desire to write my own music. Ella says she wants to create music that
makes people think. 

Holly Smith
A student at East Glendalough school in Wicklow, Holly is very passionate about music. She
started playing guitar at the beginning of COVID. She is self taught and discovered she
could sing when she began playing. She also has a great interest in sports, loves all genres
of music and would love to take her music further.