The Gloaming beat Hozier, U2 and Sinead O'Connor to take Choice Music Prize

By Ed Power

Folk 'supergroup' The Gloaming have won the Choice Music Prize for Best Irish Album Of The Year tonight.

The Irish/American five-piece were named winners, for their self-titled debut LP, at a ceremony in Vicar Street, Dublin tonight - but could not accept the award as they were en route to Australia for a tour.

The group, which includes Cork vocalist Iarla O Lionaird and Clare fiddle player Martin Hayes, combine traditional music with more progressive elements.

Their win was not a surprise – bookies had installed them as second favourites for the award, for which Hozier, U2 and Sinead O'Connor were also in contention.

A separate prize for best Irish song of 2014 went to The Script for 'Superheroes'.

Here's what Twitter had to say about the result.

Aw, nice one! @TheGloaming1 won the #choicemusicprize. Not my usual taste but it's a beautiful album, listened to it loads last year

— Mary Molloy (@MaryLMolloy) March 5, 2015