DELORENTOS were last night announced as the winners of the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2012 at an awards ceremony in Dublin.
The four-piece band, largely hailing from Malahide in the north of the city, were the favourites to take the prize ever since the release of their third album, Little Sparks, early last year.
The night also saw the announcement of the winner of the Meteor Choice Music Prize Irish Song of the Year with 21-year-old Gavin James taking the prize for his song Say Hello, which was picked by the public via text vote and online.
Delorentos beat off competition from nine other albums including those from Damien Dempsey, Julie Feeney, Heathers and Two Door Cinema Club.
Accepting the prize on the night, Delorentos dedicated the award to drummer Ross McCormick's mother, Mary, who recently died.
As part of the win, the group took home €10,000 in prize money.
The band were announced as winners after a judging panel made up of 11 Irish music media professionals deliberated at length to choose the album which represented the best of Irish music from the shortlist of 10 records released by Irish artists throughout 2012.
All acts bar Two Door Cinema Club - who were performing in Berlin last night – performed live.
The full shortlist of nominated albums for the Choice Prize were Wallis Bird - Wallis Bird; The Cast of Cheers – Family; Adrian Crowley– I See Three Birds Flying; Delorentos - Little Sparks; Damien Dempsey – Almighty Love; Julie Feeney – Clocks; Heathers – Kingdom; Mumblin Deaf Ro – Dictionary Crimes; Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon and Windings – I Am Not The Crow.
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