Harmonious night for pop's novices and troupers

In a year in which they didn't have a new album out, U2 could hardly dominate the Meteor Ireland Music Awards yet again. But they still emerged from last night's ceremony having successfully defended their title of Best Irish Group, and they picked up a €100,000 prize for Bono's humanitarian work to boot.

The Fab Four aside, an awards ceremony which has been criticised as predictable at least spread the prizes around, with nobody winning more than two and several relative newcomers rewarded. The 19-year-old Carly Hennessy, who wasn't born when U2 started playing stadiums, was named best Irish female singer, while Offaly's finest, the almost equally fresh-faced Mundy, picked up the male equivalent.

Best album was awarded posthumously to Skylarkin, by Mic Christopher, formerly of the Mary Janes, who died last year while on tour with the Waterboys. Best folk artist was Cork singer-songwriter John Spillane; best dance act went to Luke Thomas; and in one of the smaller surprises of the ceremony, Westlife won the award for best pop act, to the loudest audience acclaim of the night.

Today FM's Ian Dempsey won the prize for best radio DJ. Jerry Fish, once the frontman of An Emotional Fish, lifted the award for country/roots artist. Dublin band The Thrills won best new act, and Rubyhorse - another Dublin band just returned from the US - were honoured with the Hope for 2003 award.

Bono was honoured for his work on behalf of a series of good causes with the special humanitarian prize, earlier recipients of which have included Christina Noble and Elton John. The award is accompanied by €100,000, to be donated to the recipient's nominated charities, and aid agencies Concern and Goal will benefit from Bono's success.

The award is the latest in a very long line for the Dubliner, who has been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize and could win an Oscar later this month for the song The Hands that Built America, from the film Gangs of New York. Praising Concern and Goal, he said their representatives in Africa and elsewhere were "the real heroes, and they represent this country better than anyone here".

The lifetime achievement award went to Bob Geldof, who joined Bertie Ahern, Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and John Hume in paying tributes to Bono's work. Singer-songwriter Phil Coulter received the special industry award.

International winners included English band Coldplay, fresh from their Grammy success and an anti-war outburst at the Brits. Eminem was named best international male act, with Avril Lavigne taking the female award.

An unshaven Colin Farrell was one of the biggest draws of the night, and described as a national treasure by MC Dara O Brian. "When he dumped Britney Spears, it was like we all dumped her," he announced, in a controversial if popular interpretation of recent tabloid rumours.

Music entertainment on the night ranged from Finbarr Furey, to Tom Jones to the Alabama 3, who perform the theme music to the US mafia series The Sopranos. But in a category of her own, as usual, was Sinead O'Connor, who performed Phil Coulter's Scorn Not His Simplicity in a top featuring a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

An edited version of the ceremony will be broadcast tomorrow night on RTÉ.

Best group: U2

Best Irish female singer: Carly Hennessy

Best Irish male singer: Mundy

Best folk/traditional act: John Spillane (left)

Best Irish album: Skylarkin - Mic Christopher

Best Irish dance act: Luke Thomas

Best pop act: Westlife

Best radio DJ: Ian Dempsey

Best country/roots album: Gerry Fish

Best Irish new act: The Thrills

Best international group: Coldplay

Best international male: Eminem

Best international female: Avril Lavigne

Best international album: By the Way - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Best visiting live performance: Red Hot Chilli Peppers,

Lansdowne Road

Hope for 2003 award: Rubyhorse