Music promoter honoured at awards

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7248397.stm

Version 0 of 1.

A world-renowned Belfast-based music promoter has been honoured by the Irish music industry.

The Meteor Industry Award was presented to the family of the Northern Ireland entertainment promoter Jim Aiken, who died last year.

He brought international acts to Ireland such as Bruce Springsteen and The Eagles.

East Belfast singer-songwriter Duke Special was named as Best Irish Male in the awards in Dublin.

Westlife walked away with the Best Irish Pop Act, for the eighth year in a row, at the awards ceremony.

A total of 19 gongs were presented and there were performances from Westlife, Boyzone, Shayne Ward, Cathy Davey, The Coronas and a duet from Sinead O'Connor and Republic of Loose.

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody dueted with Lisa Hannigan on the Some Surprise track taken from the Oxfam Ireland charity album, Cake Sale CD.

Cathy Davey was voted Best Irish Female and Damien Dempsey was presented with the award for Best Folk/Traditional.

Singer Paddy Casey's Addicted to Company won Best Irish Album, with Aslancrowned Best Irish Band.

Folk veterans the Saw Doctors were presented with the Lifetime AchievementAward - the group are this year celebrating over 20 years in the music business.

The Saw Doctors hold the record for the country's biggest-selling single of all time, I Useta Lover, which topped the Irish charts for nine weeks in 1990.