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IMRO Radio Awards 2017 Revealed

October 9, 2017

All the winners of the 2017 IMRO Radio Awards (formerly the PPI Radio Awards) were announced on Friday night at the gala ceremony held at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny. Attended by over 600 guests, the Awards were hosted again this year by radio DJ and comic Dermot Whelan. In total more than 677 entries were received, these were then whittled down to a shortlist of 185 which was announced in early September.

The highlight Awards of the night for Station of the Year were won by:

Full Service Station of the Year RTÉ Radio 1

Music Station of the Year RTÉ Lyric fm
Local Station of the Year LMFM
Outstanding Achievement Award Composing the Island on RTÉ lyric fm

• 90 Judges deliberated over the record number of 677 entries.
• Judges listened to over 295 hours of the best of radio from both sides of the border, the 2017 Radio Awards have been the most hotly contested in their 17 years of existence.

Speaking of this year’s Awards, IMRO Radio Awards Committee Chair, Sean Murtagh said “Once again the radio community across the country can celebrate and be proud of their work, this evening we salute the incredible work of those behind the scenes as well as in front of the mic in stations. Over 600 people from the radio sector have come together this evening at the Lyrath Estate, all hoping to take home the industry’s most sought after Award.”

Speaking on behalf of the new sponsors of the Awards, Eleanor McEvoy, Chair of IMRO said “The IMRO Radio Awards celebrate and applaud the many radio professionals who day-in-day-out shine a light on the important local, national and international topics and issues that affect us all and who create that all too important musical soundtrack of our lives. Each of the nominees in their own way has made an indelible mark on the broadcasting sector and they rightfully deserve to be honoured by their peers on this special evening”. 

Michael O’Keefe, Chief Executive of BAI said “The BAI is delighted to continue its support of the newly titled IMRO Radio Awards. We look forward to furthering a strong partnership with our colleagues from IMRO, who have been great supporters of the radio sector in Ireland for many years. When the BAI launched its new strategy statement earlier this year, one of the key strategic objectives was to encourage creativity and innovation as distinctive features of the Irish audiovisual sector. The IMRO Radio Awards winners and nominees place creativity and innovation at the heart of everything they do in broadcasting and the BAI is proud to be associated with each and every one of them.”

In mid-September the annual Hall of Fame induction took place at the BAI offices. This year’s inductees were Linda McAuley (BBC Radio Ulster), Séamus Mac Géidigh RIP (RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta), Billy McCarthy RIP (WLR FM) and Joe King (Broadcast Technical Services Limited).

IMRO Radio Awards 2017 – Full winners list
A1
General Music Programme
Gold The Big Ride Home with Dara Quilty 98FM
Silver Dermot & Dave Today FM
Bronze Off The Charts with Fergal D’Arcy Today FM
A2
Specialist Music Programme
Gold The Paul McLoone Show Today FM
Silver Songs in the Key of Life Today FM
Bronze Living in the 80s with Will Leahy RTÉ Gold
A3
Breakfast Programme
Gold PJ and Jim in the Morning Classic Hits 4FM
Silver FM104’s The Strawberry Alarm Clock with Jim-Jim and Nobby FM104
Bronze The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show Today FM
A4
Music Special
Gold Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Clare FM
Silver Paul McLoone “It was 50 years ago today” Today FM
Bronze ALT – Laurie Shaw Special SPIN South West
A5
New Irish Music / Musical Talent Programme
Gold ALT – Guerilla Sessions SPIN South West
Silver 98FM’s Totally Irish 98FM
Bronze Lost in Music with Louise Duffy Today FM
B1
News Story
Gold The Stephen Nolan Show – The RHI Scandal BBC Radio Ulster
Silver Anthony Foley – Passing and Funeral Coverage Limerick’s Live 95FM
Bronze Tragedy in Kilkee Clare FM
B2
News Bulletin
Gold Q Radio News Bulletin Q Radio
Silver Today FM News Today FM
Bronze 98FM News 98FM
B3
News Programme
Gold The National Lunchtime News Today FM
Silver A City in Mourning: The Funerals of Martin McGuinness and Ryan McBride BBC Radio Foyle
Bronze Brexit: The Vote that Shook the World RTÉ Radio 1
B4
Current Affairs Programme
Gold Newstalk Drive – President Trump Newstalk
Silver Heartbeat South East Radio
Bronze Brexit Special – Live from Oriel Centre Gaol, Dundalk RTÉ Radio 1
B5
Sports Story
Gold A Warrior on the Field BBC Radio Foyle
Silver We All Dream – Ireland at the Euros 2016 Newstalk
Bronze Man in the Van RTÉ Radio 1
B6
Sports Programme
Gold Off the Ball Weekday Newstalk
Silver Off the Ball Live Newstalk
Bronze Saturday Sport RTÉ Radio 1
C1
Documentary/Feature
Gold Documentary on One: No Time To Lose RTÉ Radio 1
Silver Documentary on One: We Decide Who Lives or Dies RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Documentary on One: Anatomy of an Irish Serial Killer RTÉ Radio 1
C2
Music Documentary
Gold 1977 Cathal Funge for  Today FM
Silver Documentary on One: Sin É: Jeff Buckley’s Irish Odyssey RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Someone to watch over me: The Music Manager RTÉ Radio 1
C3
Short Feature
Gold The Pat Kenny Show: A History of Scandal in the Catholic Church Newstalk
Silver The History Show: A Lemonade Bottle Red Hare Media for RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Keepsakes Radio Kerry
C4
Magazine Programme
Gold The Ray D’Arcy Show RTÉ Radio 1
Silver Late Lunch LMFM
Bronze The John Toal Show BBC Radio Ulster
C5
Drama
Gold I Seek Refuge RTÉ Radio 1
Silver Drama on One: Harder Faster More by Tracy Martin RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Terms and Conditions WLR
C6
Specialist Speech Programme
Gold Living with Locked-In Syndrome Newstalk
Silver Joseph O’Connor’s Into The Mystic RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze The Golden Man: The Mystery of Peter Bergmann Ocean FM
C7
Craoltoireacht le Gaeilge
Gold Cormac ag a Cúig RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Silver Blas BBC Radio Ulster
Bronze Ceolas Today FM Today FM
C8
Interactive Speech Programme
Gold The Neil Prendeville Show: Breaking the Silence Red FM
Silver The Stephen Nolan Show: RHI Scandal BBC Radio Ulster
Bronze The Frank Mitchell Phone-in: Manchester Attack U105
C9
Comedy Programme
Gold Colm O’Regan Wants A Word Sideline Productions for RTÉ Radio 1
Silver Callan’s Kicks RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Whats Snots 13 Years later Ocean FM
D1
Community/Social Action
Gold Cork’s 96FM Giving for Living Radiothon Cork’s 96FM
Silver Late Lunch: Wheels for John LMFM
Bronze On Your Behalf: Caring for the Carers BBC Radio Ulster
D2
On-Air Competitions / Promotions
Gold The Chosen One on Cork’s Red FM Red FM
Silver Off The Charts with Fergal D’Arcy: Mastercard Priceless Moments Today FM
Bronze The Coffin Lock-In Beat 102-103
D3
Station Imaging
Gold 98FM 98FM
Silver RTÉ 2FM RTÉ 2FM
Bronze Today FM Today FM
D4
Entertainment Inserts
Gold Gift Grub Today FM
Silver Breakfast Republic RTÉ 2FM
Bronze Dermot & Dave Today FM
D5
Innovation
Gold Liveline 1917 RTÉ Radio 1
Silver Jim Stands Up Classic Hits 4FM
Bronze Ed Sheeran at The Odeon FM104
E1
Music Broadcaster
Gold Dara Quilty 98FM
Silver Ian Dempsey Today FM
Bronze Fergal D’Arcy Today FM
E2
Radio DJ
Gold Steve K SPIN 1038
Silver Steve Haze Cork’s 96FM
Bronze Louise Duffy Today FM
E3
Specialist Music Broadcaster
Gold John Toal BBC Radio Ulster
Silver Stephen McCauley BBC Radio Foyle
Bronze Rob O’Connor Beat 102-103
E4
News Broadcaster
Gold Sarah McInerney Newstalk
Silver Brendan O’Loughlin 98FM
Bronze William Crawley BBC Radio Ulster
E5
News Reporter
Gold Kevin Magee BBC Radio Ulster
Silver Fergal Keane RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Gavan Reilly Today FM
E6
Sports Broadcaster
Gold Ger Gilroy Newstalk
Silver Joanne Cantwell RTÉ Radio 1
Bronze Joe Molloy Newstalk
E7
Speech Broadcaster
Gold Mark Patterson BBC Radio Foyle
Silver Stephen Nolan BBC Radio Ulster
Bronze Neil Prendeville Red FM
E8
Newcomer
Gold Una Kelly BBC Radio Foyle
Silver Dave Duke iRadio
Bronze Al Porter Today FM
E9
Best Live Sound – Music
Gold John Benson BBC Radio Ulster
Silver Tom Norton RTÉ lyric fm
Bronze Davy Neill BBC Radio Ulster
F1
Local Station of the Year
Gold LMFM LMFM
Silver Clare FM Clare FM
Bronze BBC Radio Foyle BBC Radio Foyle
F2
Music Station
Gold RTÉ Lyric FM RTÉ lyric fm
Silver 98FM 98FM
Bronze Radio Nova Radio Nova
F3
Full Service Station
Gold RTÉ Radio 1 RTÉ Radio 1
Silver BBC Radio Ulster BBC Radio Ulster
Bronze Newstalk Newstalk

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