Edge presented a special award to Christy Moore in Dublin at the weekend.

Celebrating 40 years in the music business, the Kildare-born singer fronted two seminal bands, Planxty and Moving Hearts, before becoming a hugely successful solo artist. On Friday the Irish music world paid tribute and Edge made the inaugural presentation of the IRMA Honours, the Irish Recorded Music Association's supreme award.

"There is no-one like Christy Moore." he said. "It's only when you hear Christy that you really get it because the man is totally unique."

A video tribute featured Van Morrison, who called Moore "a kind-of broad definition of Irish folk music," along with Bono, Ronnie Drew, and Michael Flatley. The Taoiseach said that Moore had "fired the imaginations and captured the hearts" of audiences all over the world. "You have made, and continue to make, the people of Ireland very proud."

At a special charity auction on the night, Edge's hand-painted guitar, raised €15,000 out of a total €100,000 raised for The Chernobyl Children's Project and Crumlin Children's Hospital.

More on Christy Moore here
www.christymoore.com