Snow Patrol

Date: 4 June 2010
Recipient: Snow Patrol
Location: The Duke of York bar, Belfast
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On 4 June 2010, legendary rock group Snow Patrol were honoured by the PRS for Music Heritage Award. A special plaque was erected in Belfast where the original group Gary Lightbody, Jonny Quinn and Mark McClelland- first performed, at the Duke of York pub in Belfast in 1998.

Current members – Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Paul Wilson, Jonny Quinn and Tom Simpson were there to see the plaque unveiled.

What I remember of the Duke Of York back then was that we did two nights, one acoustic and one as a full band, and there weren’t many people there.  It’s great to be back where it all started. It hasn’t changed much at all, except there’s more posters on the walls now.

We never sold out the Duke Of York, and to be honest, getting 30 people back then was a good night. To be playing for up to 40,000 people now is incredible for us.

Celebrating these birthplaces of our country's musical heritage is a really well deserved thing to do and I’m absolutely delighted to unveil this PRS for Music Heritage Award to Snow Patrol today. The UK has given the world fantastic songwriters and performers which have enriched our lives and provided us with music we all love and appreciate. I'm immensely proud that the bands’ humble musical beginnings at the Duke of York pub have been recognised and honoured for all to see.