Wagon Wheel is officially Ireland's favourite country music song after scooping award last night

Wagon Wheel is officially Ireland's most popular country music song after the smash hit was voted for by the Irish public as Ireland's All-Time Favourite Country Music song. Nathan Carter's remake of the song is popular with vast swathes of the population, both young and old, and it has turned into a sensational nightclub hit.

Mike Denver was also voted Entertainer of the Year at the inaugural RTÉ Irish Country Music Awards, in association with the Irish Farmers Journal, on Friday night.

Mike won the highly-coveted award by public vote through the Irish Farmers Journal website.

Wagon Wheel singer Nathan Carter took home the award for Live Act Of The Year while Jimmy Buckley was awarded Male Artist of the Year. Hillbilly Girl singer Lisa McHugh was honoured as Female Artist of the Year and the award for Newcomer of the Year was presented to Tyrone woman Cliona Hagan.

Galway man Mike Denver also took home the Album of the Year award for his record Cut Loose and former D-Side front man turned country singer Derek Ryan was announced as Songwriter of the Year.

The Three Amigos’ star Robert Mizzell won Video Of The Year for his solo hit Day Job. Michael English beat off stiff competition to be crowned Country Dance Act Of The Year. Founder of Ritz Record, the country music label responsible for the success of many of Ireland’s top artists, Mick Clerkin was presented with the Industry Award.

As announced earlier this week, Big Tom McBride was the first person to be inducted into the Irish country music Hall of Fame. Big Tom was presented with the honour by legendary saxophonist Paddy Cole. Champion and chaplain of country music Fr. Brian D’Arcy was on hand to award the queen of country music Philomena Begley with her Lifetime Achievement Award after which the Tyrone native sang her hit I Ain't Over The Hill. The star-studded awards show, broadcast live on RTÉ One, was hosted by Daniel O’Donnell and viewers were treated to ten live performances including Big Tom’s rendition of one of his hit tunes Going Out The Same Way You Came In and Marty Mone’s You Tube sensation Hit The Diff.