RTE Choice Music Prize: CMAT wins album of the year

CMAT has been named as the winner of the RTE Choice Music Prize album of year for 2022 for her debut record, ‘If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead’.

The announcement was made by last year’s winner, David Balfe at an awards ceremony held in Vicar Street on Thursday, March 9.

Unfortunately, the north-Dublin singer-songwriter couldn’t collect the award in person on the night due to touring and recording commitments.

To collect the gong in her place, was friend and drag queen, Lavender who read out a speech written by the winner.

Awards were also handed out on for Breakthrough Irish Artist, Best Irish Song, and Best Irish Artist for 2022.

Post-punk rockers Fontaines D.C. were named Best Irish Artist and were represented on the night by guitarist Conor Curley while Moncrieff’s ‘Warm’ was awarded best Irish Song and Cian Ducrot picked up Breakthrough Irish Artist.

The ceremony was also a celebration of the best of Irish music with five nominated artists performing throughout the evening which was hosted by RTE 2FM’s Tracy Clifford.

Pillow Queens, Aoife Nessa Frances, Thumper, Just Mustard, and Anna Mieke all played three tracks from their nominated albums.

The other shortlisted records were Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Skinty Fia’, Sorcha Richardson’s ‘Smiling like an Idiot’, The Mary Wallopers’ ‘The Mary Wallopers’, and Dermot Kennedy’s ‘Sonder’.

Legendary singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor was also honoured on the evening, being named as the first ever winner of the Classic Irish Album category for her 1990 album, ‘I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got’.