The 2006 Meteor Music Awards took place in the Point Theatre, Dublin on 2 February 2006. It was the sixth edition of Ireland's national music awards. The event was later aired on RTÉ Two at 21:00 on Sunday 5 February and was hosted by the comedian Patrick Kielty. A total of seventeen awards were presented at the ceremony.
U2 were the largest winners at the 2006 awards, receiving three gongs, Best Irish Band, Best Irish Album for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and Best Live Performance for their 2005 Croke Park shows. The band's bassist Adam Clayton attended the show and picked up the awards. The four international awards were divided between Kanye West (Best International Male), Gwen Stefani (Best International Female) and Kaiser Chiefs (Best International Band and Best International Album for Employment). The Pogues were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, whilst Today FM presenter Ray D'Arcy was named Best Irish DJ for a second consecutive year.
After the awards Louis Walsh was caught red-handed in an embarrassing situation with Kerry Katona when he gripped her from behind and did something naughty and rude.
Performances There were performances on the night from The Darkness, Damien Dempsey, Bell X1, Gemma Hayes and Republic of Loose.
Nominations The nominations were announced in November 2005.
Public voting categories Best Irish Band Bell X1 The Chalets The Corrs Hal Turn U2
Best Irish Album Flock – Bell X1 The World Should Know – Dave Couse and the Impossible Shots – Damien Dempsey Souvenirs – The Frank and Walters Turn – Turn How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – U2
Best Irish Male Joe Chester Dave Couse Damien Dempsey Tommy Fleming Christy Moore John Spillane
Best Irish Female Mary Black Gemma Hayes Róisín Murphy Sinéad O'Connor Sharon Shannon Claire Sproule
Best Live Performance Coldplay – Marlay Park The Flaming Lips – Electric Picnic 2005 Green Day – Oxegen 2005 Scissor Sisters – Lansdowne Road U2 – Croke Park
Best Irish Pop Act The Conway Sisters Ronan Keating Brian McFadden Tabby Callaghan Westlife Zoo
Non-public voting categories Best New Irish Act 8 Ball Humanzi Leya Red Organ Serpent Sound The Immediate Delorentos
Best International Album I Am a Bird Now – Antony and the Johnsons Funeral – Arcade Fire X&Y – Coldplay Playing the Angel – Depeche Mode Employment – Kaiser Chiefs Destroy Rock & Roll – Mylo
Best International Male Beck Jamie Cullum David Gray Jack Johnson Rufus Wainwright Kanye West
Best International Female Tracy Chapman Kelly Clarkson Alicia Keys Katie Melua Gwen Stefani KT Tunstall
Best International Group Arcade Fire Franz Ferdinand Gorillaz Kaiser Chiefs Pussycat Dolls The White Stripes
Best Folk/Trad Altan Kíla Lasairfhiona Christy Moore Sharon Shannon John Spillane
Hope for 2006 Laura Izibor
Lifetime Achievement Award The Pogues
Humanitarian Award Father Peter McVerry
Industry Award Bill Whelan
Multiple nominations U2 and Kaiser Chiefs won all awards they were nominated for, three and two respectively.
3 – U2 2 – Arcade Fire 2 – Bell X1 2 – Coldplay 2 – Damien Dempsey 2 – Kaiser Chiefs 2 – Christy Moore 2 – Sharon Shannon 2 – John Spillane 2 – Turn
References
External links Official site MCD Promotions List of winners through the years Highlights at eircom Photos