Jack L (Music award)

Jack L from Athy in Co. Kildare has been bewitching listeners ever since his Jacques Brel-inspired debut album Wax first caught the attention of the record-buying public.

The critics were immediately impressed - one remarking Jack's singing was a mixture of all the great male voices of the 20th century. Comparisons with Scott Walker, Nick Cave, Jim Morrison, Frank Sinatra and Tom Waits followed - but one thing Jack L has since proved is he is very much his own man.

The self-produced platinum seller Metropolis Blue proved just that - consisting entirely of original material written with new collaborator David Constantine.

Since then Jack has gone on to rave reviews in America and sell-out shows both in Ireland and the rest of Europe.

His live performances have become the stuff of legend - often mixing elements of theatre together with his haunting songs to create a true live experience.

Brian Kennedy (Outstanding contribution to Music award)

Brian Kennedy is a man of many talents. Singer, songwriter, TV presenter and author - there seems little he can't turn his hand to.

Born and raised on the Falls Road his talent was first spotted by the legendary Van Morrison - who he joined on the renowned Blues and Soul World Tour for some six years. Recognition of his exceptional vocal talent came when asked by Van to record the soundtrack version of Crazy Love for the film When a Man Loves a Woman. The experience gained from the training and work ethic of those years on the road were crucial to the foundation of his future solo career.

In 1996 his A Better Man album soared to No.1 and went quadruple platinum in Ireland. In 1999 came Now That I Know What I Want with its hit single These Days reaching Number 3 in the Irish chart. But Brian's desire to push his talents to the limits saw him then take on a new challenge when he took on the role of lead singer in Riverdance on Broadway.

Simultaneously the seeds were being sown for his next album Get On With Your Short Life which garnered a legion of new fans. Further hit records followed and his success and following saw him chosen to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens in May 2006.

He reached an even wider audience with his memorable rendition of the song You Raise Me Up at the funeral of soccer legend George Best - a performance that has gone down in history.

Brian's latest album Homebird has won plaudits from critics across the world. But despite his success he has stayed close to his roots. As he proudly tells his fans: "This voice was made in Belfast!"

Paddy Moloney (Lifetime Achievement in Music award)

THE CHIEFTAINS are an Irish music legend - and leader Paddy Moloney embodies everything that has made them great. Revered wherever Irish music is played Paddy is the only one of the original Chieftains remaining from the band's start in 1962.

Paddy was brought up in a musical family in Co. Laois and was given his first instrument at the age of six - a plastic tin whistle bought by his mother. Two years later he was learning to play the uilleann pipes from the great pipe master Leo Rowsome. He went on to play in several groups where he worked to develop his own unique sound. But it was the formation of The Chieftains in the early 1960s which sent him on the road to legendary status.

The group became a focal point for the flowering of the unique Irish musical tradition - influencing countless others and garnering fame across the globe. Paddy has led the group to all corners of the world and worked with artists in many different genres. His leadership of the Chieftains has led to recognition of Irish music and of the group's work from political leaders and musical colleagues in Ireland and around the world.

In addition to this Paddy has created a formidable body of solo work and played with many of the greats in the music industry including Mick Jagger, Sting and Jackson Browne.