Press release : The Irish Music Association Announces the 5th Annual Irish Music Award Recipients. The Awards Recognize the Irish Music Industry's Most Accomplished Artists and Performing Groups. The Irish Music Association has released its list of The Best of the Best in Irish Music for 2012, creating new international icons in the genre. During the 5th Annual Irish Music Award (IMA) presentation ceremony, the IMA recognized outstanding Irish artists in 18 different categories, from "Best Irish Tenor" to "Top Celtic Rock Band Worldwide".

The event took place in the 60-foot-underground historic brewery cellars of the 1842 Royal Brewing Company at O'Malley's Pub in Weston, Missouri. "The Irish Music Association is very proud to be the premier organization recognizing and celebrating outstanding Irish artists from the Emerald Isle, America, and beyond. Every year, we are astounded by the vast array of musicians in the Irish music industry, as well as the enthusiastic support from the many fans of Irish music across the world," IMA Executive Director R. T. Reeder said.  Saturday's awards ceremony included performances by New York musician, Mickey Coleman, originally from County Tyrone; violin player, Marie Gavin, of the Greater Kansas City area; Chad McAnnally, of St Paul/Minneapolis; and Siusan O'Rourke and Zig Zeitler from Michigan.