DUBLINER CONOR O'Brien, frontman of the music act Villagers, has won an Ivor Novello award. The prestigious songwriting prize was awarded to the 28-year-old from Dún Laoghaire at an award ceremony in London yesterday.
O'Brien won in the "Best Song Musically and Lyrically" category for his track Becoming A Jackal.
The Ivor Novello is a much coveted award as it is voted for by songwriters themselves. Any song or album by an Irish or UK artist is eligible for the prize. O'Brien was up against songs by Foals ( Spanish Sahara) and Everything Everything ( MY KZ, UR BF) in his category.
The Novello prize is yet further recognition for O'Brien's debut album, also called Becoming A Jackal which was released last year. Previously it has been nominated for both a Mercury Music Prize and a Choice Music Award. One of the most acclaimed Irish music albums of recent years, O'Brien has made major inroads into the US and European markets with his work and the Ivor Novello award will considerably heighten his profile.
There had been criticism of the Best Song Musically and Lyrically category this year with many pointing out that the three acts nominated were hardly well-known musical names and that the three nominated songs did not adequately represent the best of British and Irish music released during 2010.
Beginning his musical career with the band The Immediate, thus far O'Brien's solo career has seen him pick up, or be nominated for, most of the major music awards. His next big Irish show takes place at Dublin's Marlay Park on July 23rd.
The other big winner at yesterday's ceremony was the UK rapper Plan B, who carried off three awards, including the Best Album award for The Defamation Of Strickland Banks.
