The Club was listed as one of 11 finalists in the NSW Clubs and Community awards in the Arts and Culture Category for its Australian Celtic Music Awards. 

Representatives from the club attended a gala event on October 15 in Darling Harbour where it was announced as the winner of the category. 

Services Club events coordinator Julie Clement said it was a bit of a shock the local club beat out some of the industry heavyweights for the title. 

“It was a stunning night and it was hosted by Ben Fordham,” she said. 

“I think Pat [Lonergan], our general manager, was quite stunned and we certainly enjoyed it. Judi Toms, who was one of our directors, she came down, and our president Russell Meehan and Pat and his wife Jane. 

“It was just an amazing experience.

“Ben Fordham made a comment about being the furthest people travelling down to the awards,. He first of all said Armidale, and then we piped up and said 'no, excuse me, Glen Innes'. So that was funny.”

Topping off the night was a performance by Glen Innes-born Golden Guitar winner Darren Coggan, who is a regular at the Celtic Festival. 

“It was a lovely night, great entertainment, Darren Coggan actually did a song,” Ms Clement said. 

“It was lovely to have him there because he feels like it is his baby too.”

The Celtic Music Awards have run for six years and are solely organised by the Services Club. 

It is the only event dedicated to honouring Celtic musicians in the world and is run in conjunction with the annual festival in Glen Innes every year.

There are 10 awards handed out in Celtic Music’s version of the ARIAs. 

“Often clubs sponsor things but to actually produce something from beginning to end - the judging and all of that - we do,” Ms Clement said. 

“It's our baby, we own the Australian Celtic Music Awards and that award was in recognition of that, it is very much a community thing. 

“We have had great presenters like Damien Leith, Darren Coggan, who is our emcee every year and he is such a big star.”