Radio Award winners revealed as #IMRO18 celebrates another stellar year for the industry
The IMRO Radio Awards ceremony was held at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny on Friday 5th October, where the winners for the 2018 event were revealed. The Awards are attended by over 600 people in the radio industry in Ireland and are a prized accolade to take home. At the start of the evening the Hall of Fame inductees for this year – Pat Kenny, Margaret Nelson, Willie O’Reilly and Ian Wilson were presented with their plaques. The special award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to RTÉ 2fm Live and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
The big three awards for the evening were won by:
Local Station of the Year – BBC Radio Foyle
Music Station of the Year – 98FM
Full Service Station of the Year – RTÉ Radio 1
Chairperson of the Radio Awards Tom McGuire says “Tonight was a celebration of the creativity, innovation and variety of Irish radio. The quality, appeal and professionalism of all nominees is a fitting recognition of our audio island and our wonderful listeners.”
Speaking at the Awards, Eleanor McEvoy, IMRO Chairperson said “Many congratulations to all of the award recipients. Each one in their own way has made an indelible mark on the broadcasting sector in Ireland and they rightfully deserve to be honoured by their peers on this special evening”.
Chief Executive of the BAI, Michael O’Keeffe, said after the Awards: “The BAI is very pleased to continue our support for the IMRO Radio Awards which recognises and rewards excellence in Irish radio broadcasting. We also look forward to a continued partnership with our colleagues from IMRO who have been great supporters of the radio sector in Ireland for many years.
One of the key strategic objectives of the BAI Strategy Statement is to encourage creativity and innovation as distinctive features of the Irish audiovisual sector and these goals are certainly reflected in the submissions for this year’s Awards. I would like to congratulate all nominees and category winners on this special occasion for radio practitioners in Ireland.”
The full winners list is as follows:
| Category: A1 General Music Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Big Ride Home with Dara Quilty | 98FM |
| Silver | The Zoo Crew | Spin 1038 |
| Bronze | Muireann O’Connell | Today FM |
| Category: A2 Specialist Music Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Classical Connections with John Toal | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Silver | Soundscapes with Stephen McCauley | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | Ceilí House | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Category: A3 Breakfast Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | PJ and Jim in the Morning | Classic Hits 4FM |
| Silver | The KC Show Featuring Ross Browne | Cork’s 96FM |
| Bronze | The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show | Today FM |
| Category: A4 Music Special | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Sailing Homeward to Coney Island | Ocean FM |
| Silver | FM104’s Strawberry Alarm Clock – Aslan Special | FM104 |
| Bronze | Jazz Club – The Jazz and Blues of Sir Van Morrison | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: A5 New Irish Music/Musical Talent | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | 98FM’s Totally Irish | 98FM |
| Silver | When Teresanne met Ruthanne | WLR FM |
| Bronze | Across the Line | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: B1 News Story | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Paedophile Hunters | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Silver | August Floods | BBC Radio Foyle |
| Bronze | Belfast Rape Trial | Newstalk |
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| Category: B2 News Bulletin | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | 98FM News | 98FM |
| Silver | Downtown Radio/Cool FM | Downtown Radio/Cool FM |
| Bronze | Red FM News | Red FM |
| Category: B3 News Programme – Full Service | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Storm Ophelia – The Cleanup | Today FM |
| Silver | This Week – London Bridge Attack | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Bronze | Be Home by Four | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Category: B4 News Programme – Local/Regional | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Breakfast Show – After the Flood | BBC Radio Foyle |
| Silver | Main Lunchtime News | Ocean FM |
| Bronze | Beat News Round Up – Referendum Special | Beat 102103 |
| Category: B5 Current Affairs Programme – Full Service | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Pat Kenny Show | Newstalk |
| Silver | Ivan Yates: Belfast Rape Trial Verdict | Newstalk |
| Bronze | Evening Extra | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: B6 Current Affairs Programme – Local/Regional | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Remembering Dolores | Limerick’s Live 95 |
| Silver | Midlands Today with Will Faulkner | Midlands 103 |
| Bronze | Morning Mix Anti Social Behaviour | South East Radio |
| Category: B7 Sports Story | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Munich Air Disaster 1958 | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | Radio “GAA GAA” – All Ireland on WLR | WLR FM |
| Bronze | Back from the Brink: Institute Football Club | BBC Radio Foyle |
|
Category: B8 Sports Programme – Full Service |
||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Sunday Sport – Remembering Jimmy | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | OTB Live | Newstalk |
| Bronze | Off the Ball | Newstalk |
| Category: B9 Sports Programme – Local/Regional | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | When the Gloves are Off | Ocean FM |
| Silver | Over the Line | Galway Bay FM |
| Bronze | Now that’s what I call Sport | 98FM |
| Category: C1 Documentary/Feature | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Documentary on One: Frank Stagg’s Three Funerals | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | Documentary on One: An Unholy Trinity | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Bronze | Documentary on One: 007, The Irish Connection | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Category: C2 Music Documentary | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Berlin Calling | RTÉ 2XM |
| Silver | Totally Irish – Music Makers | 98FM |
| Bronze | The Recovery Café | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: C3 Short Feature | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Book Show: Song of Winter | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | CAKE | RTÉjr |
| Bronze | Aisling Kenny for Morning Ireland: Baby in a Coffin: Real Life Abortion Stories | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Category: C4 Magazine Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | The Open Door with Ann Marie Kelly | Midlands 103 |
| Silver | The Ray D’Arcy Show | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Bronze | Plan B | Spin 1038 |
|
Category: C5 Drama |
||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | K.L.O. for the Doggy by Robert Barrett | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | 100 Everyday Menaces | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Bronze | A Pilot’s Honour | Alan Meaney for Newstalk |
| Category: C6 Specialist Speech Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Futureproof – Enemies of the State | Newstalk |
| Silver | A Grave Profession | Ocean FM |
| Bronze | Science and Stuff with Emer Maguire | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: C7 Craoltoireacht le Gaeilge | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Rónán Beo @ 3 | RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta |
| Silver | Scoil Bhride – 100 Bhliain d’Aois | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | Splanc | Newstalk |
| Category: C8 Interactive Speech Programme | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Liveline: Forced apart after 63 Years Kathleen and Michael Devereux | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | The Opinion Line | Cork’s 96FM |
| Bronze | Lunchtime Live: Cervical Check | Newstalk |
| Category: D1 Community/Social Action | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Classic Hits Wish Week | Classic Hits 4FM |
| Silver | Save the Next One | Downtown Radio Cool FM |
| Bronze | Giving for Living Radiothon | Cork’s 96FM |
| Category: D2 On Air Competitions/Promotions | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Best of Dublin Awards | 98FM |
| Silver | Billboard Singles | Spin 1038 |
| Bronze | F-ANNEMARIE | Today FM |
|
Category: D3 Station Imaging |
||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Radio Nova | Radio Nova |
| Silver | 98FM | 98FM |
| Bronze | FM104 | FM104 |
| D4 Entertainment Inserts | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Mario Rosenstock | Today FM |
| Silver | Dermot & Dave’s Entertainment Inserts | Today FM |
| Bronze | FM104’s Strawberry Alarm Clock with Jim-Jim & Nobby | FM104 |
| Category: D5 Innovation | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Futureproof – The State Watches | Newstalk |
| Silver | Billboard Singles | Spin 1038 |
| Bronze | Be the Voice | Radio Kerry |
| Category: E1 Music Broadcaster | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Ray Foley | Red FM |
| Silver | Fergal D’Arcy | Today FM |
| Bronze | KC | Cork’s 96FM |
| Category: E2 Radio DJ | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | David Hammond | Beat 102103 |
| Silver | Tracy Clifford | RTÉ 2FM |
| Bronze | Darren Rice | Beat 102103 |
| Category: E3 Specialist Music Broadcaster | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Ann Marie Kelly | Midlands 103 |
| Silver | Stephen McCauley | BBC Radio Foyle |
| Bronze | Lynette Fay | BBC Radio Ulster |
|
Category: E4 News Broadcaster |
||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Brendan O’Loughlin | 98FM |
| Silver | Seamus McKee | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | Audrey Carville | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Category: E5 News Reporter | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Philip Boucher-Hayes | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | Kevin Magee | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | Henry McKean | Newstalk |
| Category: E6 Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Joe Molloy | Newstalk |
| Silver | Nathan Murphy | Newstalk |
| Bronze | Ger Gilroy | Newstalk |
| Category: E7 Sports Broadcaster – Local/Regional | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Darren Cleary | 98FM |
| Silver | Eric White | BBC Radio Foyle |
| Bronze | Jamie Moore | 98FM |
| Category: E8 Speech Broadcaster – Full Service | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Sean Moncrieff | Newstalk |
| Silver | Stephen Nolan | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | John Toal | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Category: E9 Speech Broadcaster – Local/Regional | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | PJ Coogan on the Opinion Line: Cork’s 96FM | Cork’s 96FM |
| Silver | Will Faulkner | Midlands 103 |
| Bronze | Shane Beatty | KFM |
|
Category: E10 Newcomer |
||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | Tommy Walsh | Newstalk |
| Silver | Emer Maguire | BBC Radio Ulster |
| Bronze | Jaz Keane | Spin 1038 |
| Category: F1 Local Station of the Year | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | BBC Radio Foyle | BBC Radio Foyle |
| Silver | Radio Kerry | Radio Kerry |
| Bronze | LMFM | LMFM |
| Category: F2 Music Station of the Year | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | 98FM | 98FM |
| Silver | RTÉ lyric fm | RTÉ lyric fm |
| Bronze | Spin 1038 | Spin 1038 |
| Category: F3 Full Service Station of the Year | ||
| Entry Name | Station Name | |
| Gold | RTÉ Radio 1 | RTÉ Radio 1 |
| Silver | Newstalk | Newstalk |
| Bronze | RTÉjr | RTÉjr |
Website: http://www.imroradioawards.ie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IMRORadioAwards/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/imroradioawards
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imroradioawards/
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Radio Awards Committee
The Radio Awards Committee is comprised of 12 members representing all sectors of licensed commercial and public radio on the island of Ireland – RTÉ, BBC NI, and the independent commercial radio sectors in both the Republic and Northern Ireland. The Radio Awards were previously known as the PPI Radio Awards.
IMRO
IMRO is a national organisation that administers the performing right in copyright music in Ireland on behalf of its members (songwriters, composers and music publishers) and on behalf of members of the international overseas societies that are affiliated to it. Music users such as broadcasters, venues and businesses must pay for their use of copyright music by way of a blanket licence fee. IMRO´s function is to collect and distribute royalties arising from the public performance of copyright works, i.e. music used anywhere outside of the domestic environment, through its licensing agreements with music users in line with the Copyright & Related Rights Act, 2000. As of January 2016, IMRO also acts as agent for Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI), collecting public performance royalties on behalf of record producers and performers. IMRO is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG). IMRO is also prominently involved in the sponsorship and promotion of music in Ireland. Every year it sponsors a large number of song contests, music festivals, seminars, workshops, research projects and showcase performances. IMRO is now synonymous with helping to showcase emerging talent in Ireland.
For more information, see https://www.imro.ie/
BAI
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established in October 2009 as the single content regulator of broadcasting in Ireland.
The functions of the BAI include; the licensing of radio and television services on a variety of transmission platforms; the licensing of digital multiplex operators; the development of codes and rules in relation to programming and advertising standards; the monitoring of services to ensure that broadcasters comply with their statutory obligations and contract terms; and, the consideration of complaints. The BAI is also responsible for the operation of Broadcasting Funding Schemes which are financed by the television licence fee.
For more information, see http://www.bai.ie./