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IMRO Radio Awards 2020 Shortlist Revealed

September 7, 2020

In a year when radio has shown its continuing importance to Irish life, today the IMRO Radio Awards 2020 shortlist has been revealed. 673 entries were received for this year’s Awards, an increase on 2019.  Due to government guidelines, there will be a Virtual Live Stream event on Friday 2nd October 2020 in place of the usual gala dinner.

Last week the 105 judges led by Chair of the Judges, Peter McPartlin, spent over 42 hours on Zoom narrowing down the entries to form the shortlist. Peter and the judges commented the outstanding creativity and broadcasting quality this year particularly through the difficulties of lockdown when so many radio programmes were being broadcast from the homes across the country to the homes of listeners. The quality of the entries from all over the island of Ireland can be seen in this year’s outstanding shortlist. 

Commenting, Chair of the IMRO Radio Awards committee, Chris Doyle said “Radio has had some of its finest moments over the last twelve months.  We are delighted to celebrate the work of all those involved in the industry this year as much as any other year.  We’ve shared the good news and the bad news stories, but we’ve always been there for the listeners.”

Chairperson of Awards title sponsors IMRO Eleanor McEvoy said ““In the bizarre times of the COVID-19 pandemic, radio has kept us entertained, kept us informed and kept us sane. We now have an obligation to keep everyone safe, so we are very much looking forward to taking the radio awards online on October 2nd to celebrate the excellence and creativity of broadcasters from right throughout Ireland. We would like to congratulate those of you who have been shortlisted and we wish you the very best of luck for the awards ceremony.” 

Michael O’Keefe Chief Executive of sponsor Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said “The BAI is once again delighted to support the annual IMRO Radio Awards. 2020 has seen the most challenging times for the radio sector for many years. It is to the tremendous credit of the sector that it has continued to deliver top quality programming to its listeners throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This would not be possible without the station personnel who deliver such a wide and diverse range of high quality programming every day. The BAI congratulates all the nominees for their continued excellence in serving the listening public in Ireland with great radio and we wish them all the best of luck on the Awards night in October”

IMRO Radio Awards 2020 Shortlist
 Category title:Shortlist:Station
A1General Music Programme98FM’s The Fix with Ciaran O’Connor98FM
  Dermot and DaveToday FM
  Lunchtime with Mairéad RonanToday FM
  The Saturday Soundtrack with Peter DevlinRadio Nova
  The Zoo Crew on SPINSPIN1038
A2Specialist Music ProgrammeCéilí HouseRTÉ Radio 1
  Ed’s National AnthemsToday FM
  iGniteiRadio
  The Paul McLoone ShowToday FM
  The Tom Dunne ShowNewstalk
A3Breakfast Programme2fm Breakfast with Doireann and EoghanRTÉ 2fm
  FM104’s Strawberry Alarm ClockFM104
  Fully Charged with Graham and NathanSPIN1038
  KC and Ross in the Morning on Cork’s 96fmCork’s 96FM
  The Ian Dempsey Breakfast ShowToday FM
A4Music Special / Music EventÉirevisioniRadio
  Foyle at 40 GalaBBC Radio Foyle
  Fully Charged’s Rugby World Cup SongSPIN1038
  The Sailortown SessionsBBC Radio Ulster
  Tracy Clifford’s Studio 8 with Dermot KennedyRTÉ 2fm
A5Irish Music Programme or Initiative98FM’s Totally Irish98FM
  ATL IntroducingBBC Radio Ulster
  Gradaim Cheoil NÓSRTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta
  Irishbeats on Beat 102-103Beat 102-103
  Vicar Street RepluggedOcean fm  
B1News Story/News EventFarmers at the GatesShannonside
  Matt Damon in DalkeySPIN1038
  Owen Mor Care Home ScandalBBC Radio Foyle
  Polish Poitin – The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork’s Red FMCork’s RedFM
  (Un) Just TransitionMidlands 103
  Unprecedented TimesBBC Radio Ulster
B2News Programme – Full ServiceBreakfast Briefing with Andrea GilliganNewstalk
  Evening ExtraBBC Radio Ulster
  Newstalk Breakfast with Susan KeoghNewstalk
  This Week Special Report – Carers and Covid-19RTÉ Radio 1
B3News Programme – Local / RegionalDowntown Radio and Cool FM News TeamDowntown Radio and Cool FM
  Main Lunchtime News – Cork’s 96FMCork’s 96FM
  News at OneShannonside FM
  The Breakfast ShowBBC Radio Foyle
B4Current Affairs Programme – Full ServiceBetween The LinesNewstalk
  Good Morning UlsterBBC Radio Ulster
  Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra – Rationing PPE in Nursing HomesRTÉ Radio 1
  The Hard ShoulderNewstalk
  The Pat Kenny ShowNewstalk
B5Current Affairs Programme – Local / RegionalCorkToday – The Farm, The Land, The BeefC103 Cork
  Deise Today on WLRWLR FM
  Kerry TodayRadio Kerry
  South East Radio’s Morning MixSouth East Radio
  The Morning Show with Declan MeehanEast Coast FM
B6Sports StoryIreland at the Rugby World CupNewstalk
  Michael O’Hehir – Remembered at 100RTÉ Radio 1
  Roy Keane and Gary NevilleNewstalk
  The Clara Jug – Four Days in PortrushRTÉ Radio 1
  UnBEATableBeat 102 103
B7Sports Programme – Full ServiceDublin’s 5 In a Row (Saturday Sport)RTE Radio 1
  Off The BallNewstalk
  Off The Ball LiveNewstalk
  Remembering O’Hehir – The Voice of SportRTE Radio 1
  The Clara Jug – Four Days In PortrushRTE Radio 1
B8Sports Programme – Local/RegionalBig Ball Small Ball with Valerie WheelerSpin South West
  98FM’s Now That’s What I Call Sport with Jamie Moore98FM
  Foyle SportsoundBBC Radio Foyle
  Terrace TalkRadio Kerry
  Weekend SportsRadio Kerry
C1DocumentaryBorn this Way – a Documentary on BeatBeat 102 103
  Breast Cancer and meWLR FM
  Documentary on One: The Case of Majella MoynihanRTE Radio 1
  Documentary on One: Benjy the Little Gay BullRTE Radio 1
  Egg MoneyCurious Broadcast/Newstalk
  In Search of Horrid HenryGalway Bay FM
C2Arts, Music & Culture DocumentaryANIMALS: FleaRTE Radio 1 Extra
  Documentary on One – The WhistleblowerRTE Radio 1
  Liam Clancy – The Road Less Travelled on WLRWLR FM
  The Arts Show – Surrealism SpecialBBC Radio Ulster
  The Lyric Feature: Ethel Voynich – Music, Mystery and ManuscriptsRTE Lyric FM
C3Short FeatureBig Breakfast Little Stories on WLRWLR FM
  Dublin Inner City Regeneration SeriesRTÉ Radio 1
  Jonathan Healy ReportsNewstalk
  Keywords – Am I?/Common GroundRTÉ Radio 1 Extra
  Women’s BitsKCLR
C4Magazine ProgrammeCountrywideRTÉ Radio 1
  MoncrieffNewstalk
  SPIN1038’s Plan BSPIN1038
  The John Toal ShowBBC Radio Ulster
  The Open DoorMidlands 103
C5DramaDrama On One – Christie by Sean O’GormanRTE Radio 1
  Drama On One – Eureka Dunes by Philip DavisonRTE Radio 1
  Drama On One – Krakow by Peter SirrRTE Radio 1
  Drama On One – Leaba an Bháis le Darach Mac Con IomaireRTE Radio 1
  YouthQuake on WLRWLR FM
C6Specialist Speech ProgrammeAll This Happened, Chapter 2: We Shall OvercomeRTE Radio 1
  Awesome Irish Women…from the Past! (Episode 5: Fighters)RTE Jnr Radio
  FutureproofNewstalk
  Musical Map of IrelandRTE Radio 1
  KerrywideRadio Kerry
C7Craoltóireacht le GaeilgeÁr bPéire – Dónall Mac RuairíRTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta
  BladhaireRTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta
  Blas Ceoil (O.B. Bóthar Seoighe)BBC Radio Uladh
  Ceol AnochtKCLR
  SplancNewstalk
C8Interactive Speech Programme98FM’s Dublin Talks98FM
  Love At First Sight – The Neil Prendeville Show – Cork’s RedFMCorks Red FM
  Lunchtime LiveNewstalk
  The Green Door – North West TodayOcean fm
  The Nolan ShowBBC Radio Ulster
D1Community/Social ActionCash for Kids Day 2019Downtown/Cool FM
  FM104’s Mind Your NogginFM104
  Formal FridayCommunicorp Media
  Living with a DisabilityNewstalk
  Shine Your LightRTE Radio 1
D2On-Air Competition / PromotionFully Charged’s Gotta Get It WrongSPIN1038
  Gone in 96 Seconds – Cork’s 96FMCork’s 96FM
  Leap of Faith on BeatBeat 102-103
  Noni’s Chawwwwklit Chase – Dermot and Dave on Today FMToday FM
  Two Minute TalesBBC Radio Ulster
D3Station Imaging98FM98FM
  KCLRKCLR
  NewstalkNewstalk
  RTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fm
  SPIN1038SPIN1038
D4Entertainment InsertsAsk Audrey on Dave Mac’s DriveCork’s RedFM
  FM104’s Strawberry Alarm ClockFM104
  Gift Grub – The Ian Dempsey Breakfast ShowToday FM
  KC and Ross in the Morning on Cork’s 96FM – The Ten Past 8 BitCork’s 96FM
  Kilian PettitCork’s RedFM
D5Digital and Social InnovationDermot and Dave’s Live Date-Today FMToday FM
  iGoHomeiRadio
  The Exit PollOcean fm
  Today FM Know It All Ireland QuizToday FM
  Virtual Concert for Essential WorkersClare fm
D6Podcast of the Year98FM’s Nobody Told Me98FM
  EcolutionRTE Radio Jnr
  Getting Away With MurderBBC Radio Ulster
  Graham and Nathan’s Little Big PodcastSpin 1038
  The Nobody ZoneRTE Radio 1
E1Music and Entertainment Presenter of the YearColm HayesRadio Nova
  Dermot WhelanToday FM
  Jim-Jim NugentFM104
  KC on Cork’s 96FMCork’s 96FM
  Ray FoleyCork’s Red FM
E2Radio DJ of the YearBarry Dunne98FM
  David HammondBEAT 102 103
  Emma NolanFM104
  Jessica MacielToday FM
  Kayte O’MalleyiRadio
E3Specialist Music Broadcaster of the YearJohn ToalBBC Radio Ulster
  Kieran McGuinnessRadio Nova
  Stephen McCauleyBBC Radio Ulster
  Stuart BanfordDowntown Country
  Tom DunneNewstalk
E4News Broadcaster of the YearEamonn TorsneyNewstalk
  Elaine McGeeBBC Radio Foyle
  Fionnuala CorbettiRadio
  Gavin McLoughlinNewstalk
  Susan KeoghNewstalk
E5News Reporter of the YearCian McCormackRTÉ Radio 1
  Damien Tiernan on WLRWLR FM
  Helen JonesBBC Radio Ulster
  John CookeRTÉ Radio 1
  Kacey O’Riordan98FM
E6Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full ServiceJoe MolloyNewstalk
  Máire Treasa Ní CheallaighNewstalk
  Marie CroweRTÉ 2FM
  Nathan MurphyNewstalk
  Nikki GreggBBC Radio Ulster
E7Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Local / RegionalAustin O’CallaghanOcean FM
  Eric WhiteBBC Radio Foyle
  Luke LiddyLive 95
  Sean McCaffreyShannonside Northern Sound
  Trevor WelchCork’s 96FM
E8Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Full ServiceCiara KellyNewstalk
  Damien O’ReillyRTE Radio 1
  Ivan YatesNewstalk
  Kieran CuddihyNewstalk
  Mario RosenstockToday FM
E9Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Local / RegionalDamien Tiernan on WLRWLR FM
  Gerry KellyLMFM
  The Neil Prendeville Show – Cork’s RedFMCork’s Red FM
  Niall DelaneyOcean FM
  South East Radio’s Alan CorcoranSouth East Radio
E10The Gay Byrne Award – Newcomer of the Year AwardBrendan BrackeniRadio
  Ciarán BennettiRadio
  Connor BrennanGo Q Radio
  Maxine BramleyLive 95fm
  Michelle HeffernanBEAT 102 103
  Sarah McKinleyDowntown and Cool FM
F1Radio Moment of the YearConor’s Magical Funeral – The Neil Prendeville Show – Cork’s Red FMCork’s Red FM
  Matt Damon on SPIN1038SPIN 1038
  OTB Roadshow – Roy Keane and Gary NevilleNewstalk
  So long, farewell: Brexit Party MEPs depart from Brussels.BBC Radio Foyle
  The Francie Boylan ShowOcean FM

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