The 2023 IMRO Radio Awards are set to take place at Kilkenny’s Lyrath Estate Hotel once more on Friday 6 October.
It’s the annual gathering of the majority of the Irish radio industry, from on-air talent to front-of-house, sport, sales, production and more, save for the few souls left behind on cover shifts or late broadcasts while the party gets going on the old Dublin Road.
Update: (7/10/23) You can now find all the winners here.
In recent years we’ve seen the addition of the Local/Regional awards section, opening up more opportunities for the non-RTÉs and Newstalks of the world to be recognised for news and sports programming (or to stand more of a chance) while the award categories have also extended to the addition of Radio Station Podcast of the Year.
While there may be certain favourites for categories, the variety of the judges for each category and the judging process itself means there are no usually dead certs on the night, adding to the buzz in the room.
Last year’s big awards saw Sarah McInerney’s RTÉ Drivetime interview with Yuri Filatov scoop gold for Radio Moment of the Year, with WLR taking the gold for Local Station of the Year. Cork’s Red FM, since bought over by Bauer Media Group, was named as Music Station of the Year while the overall National Station of the Year went to Today FM, seeing off competition from Newstalk and RTÉ Radio 1.
While serving to recognise the best of work in radio in Ireland over the past year (typically a June to May cycle), each year also sees the induction of members to the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame. This year, that honour is going to Joe Finnegan (Shannonside Northern Sound), Paddy Halpenny (former CEO, Communicorp), John Bennett MBE (BBC Radio Ulster) and Mary Wilson (RTÉ Radio 1), their induction made formal earlier this month.
Take a look at the full list of nominees below for this year’s awards and keep an eye on Twitter/X for results on the night.
A: Music Programming Awards
A1: General Music Programme
- Dave and Fionnuala, iRadio
- Dermot and Dave, Today FM
- Pamela Joyce, Today FM
- The Darren and Joe show, SPIN1038
- Weekend Mix with Nadia Sakni, Live 95
A2: Specialist Music Programme
- Ambient Orbit, RTÉ Lyric FM
- American Country Show, Tipp FM
- FM104’s Freaks on Friday, FM104
- The Music Tree, Radio Kerry
- The Tom Dunne Show, Newstalk
A3: Breakfast Programme
- Beat Breakfast, Beat 102-103
- SPIN’s Fully Charged with Ed and Valerie, SPIN South West
- The Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan, 98FM
- The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Today FM
- 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl, RTÉ 2FM
A4: Music Special / Music Event
- Barrscéalta – A Live Musical tribute to those lost Creeslough Tragedy, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- Lalla Roukh (Opera Night with Paul Herriott), RTÉ Lyric FM
- Live at the Ulster Fleadh, BBC Gaeilge
- RnaG 50 – Cúige Uladh, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- The Belfast Mixtape, BBC Radio Ulster
A5: IMRO Irish Music Programme or Initiative
- Ceol for the Soul, Galway Bay FM
- iRadio’s iLoveIrish, iRadio
- Irish Music Month on SPIN, SPIN1038
- RTÉ Choice Music Prize – Song of the year – with Tracy Clifford, RTÉ 2FM
- Sessions from Oblivion, RTÉ 2XM
B: News and Sports Programming Awards
B1: News Story / News Event
- Creeslough – John Cooke for RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio 1
- Drug Debt and Intimidation, WLR FM
- Fr Sheehy and The Sinners, Radio Kerry
- Lunchtime Live – Bullying in the HSE, Newstalk
- The Queen’s Death, Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
B2: News Programme – Full Service
- Morning Ireland – Tragedy Unfolds in Creeslough, RTÉ Radio 1
- The New Prime Minister, Evening Extra, BBC Radio Ulster
- The Stephen Nolan Show, BBC Radio Ulster
- This Week – Creeslough, RTÉ Radio 1
- Today FM’s 5@5, Today FM
B3: News Programme – Local / Regional
- FYI Galway, Galway Bay FM
- Ocean FM Lunchtime News, Ocean FM
- The 5.45, Tipp FM
- Creeslough, Highland Radio
- WLR News @ One Tricolour Special, WLR FM
B4: Current Affairs Programme – Full Service
- Good Morning Mr. President, Good Morning Ulster, BBC Radio Ulster
- Newstalk Breakfast, Newstalk
- On the Record, Newstalk
- Taking Stock, Newstalk
- The Hard Shoulder, Newstalk
B5: Current Affairs Programme – Local / Regional
- Deise Today with Damien Tiernan, WLR FM
- Knock Knock The American President is There – The Joe Finnegan show, Shannonside Northern Sound
- The Michael Reade Show, LMFM
- The Morning Show with Declan Meehan, East Coast FM
- Violent Schooldays, Galway Bay FM
B6: Sports Story
- A Faithful Legacy, Midlands 103
- Cliona Darcy Wins Boxing Gold, Galway Bay FM
- Frank Greally: Running Full Circle, Midwest Radio
- Ón Taobhlíne: Blianta Órga: Ard Mhacha 2002, BBC Gaeilge
- The Making of Chiedozie Ogbene, Newstalk
B7: Sports Programme – Full Service
- Game on, RTÉ 2FM
- Jacqui’s Christmas Sporting Selection Box, RTÉ Radio 1
- Off The Ball, Newstalk
B8: Sports Programme – Local / Regional
- Connacht Club Championship Special, Galway Bay FM
- Foyle Sportsound – FAI Cup Final, BBC Radio Foyle
- Radio Kerry Weekend Sports, Radio Kerry
- RedFM’s Big Red Bench, Cork’s RedFM
- Remembering Paudie Palmer, C103 Cork
C: Speech Programming Awards
C1: Documentary
- A Man from Cork, Newstalk
- Bottler, Brendan Grace, Clare FM
- Documentary on One: Blackrock Boys, RTÉ Radio 1
- Documentary on One: Minding Mary, RTÉ Radio 1
- Extraordinary Eire, Newstalk
- Falsely Accused, Clare FM
C2: Music, Arts and Culture Documentary
- Give The Beatles Back To The Irish, BBC Radio Ulster
- Sing All Our Cares Away, RTÉ Radio 1
- The Dawning of the Day (The Lyric Feature), RTÉ Lyric FM
- The Irish Soundtrack, RTÉ Radio 1
- Whatever Happened to Gertrude Page?, LMFM
C3: Short Feature
- Dear Kerry – Letters to a Kingdom, Radio Kerry
- Henry McKean Reports, Newstalk
- Heritage Hunters, Radio Kerry
- Park Bench, RTÉ Radio 1
- The Day the Box Was Seen by Jackie Browne, Radio Kerry
C4: Magazine Programme
- Late Lunch – Gerry Kelly, LMFM
- Moncrieff, Newstalk
- The Anton Savage Show, Newstalk
- The John Toal Show, BBC Radio Ulster
- The Saturday Social with Rachael Ryan, 98FM
C5: Drama
- An Eachtra, BBC Radio Ulster
- An End of Term, Newstalk
- One Day, Galway Bay FM
- Sniper Joe and Sister Jim, Newstalk
- The Listener, RTÉJr Radio
C6: Specialist Speech Programme
- Murmurations, RTÉ Radio 1
- Stand out with Ian O’Connell, Radio Kerry
- Talking History, Newstalk
- Tech Talk with Jess Kelly, Newstalk
- Tell Teresa, BBC Radio Ulster
C7: Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge
- Abair Amach Éar WLR FM – Alzheimer’s Special, WLR FM
- An Saol Ó Dheas, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- Beo ar Éigean, RTÉ Radio 1
- Dúshlán na Feirme, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
- Snaoisín Bán, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
C8: Interactive Speech Programme
- Focus on Fostering – The Jennifer Zamparelli Show, RTÉ 2FM
- Lunchtime Live, Newstalk
- Night Time Talk with Niall Boylan, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio
- Talkback, BBC Radio Ulster
- The Stephen Nolan Show, BBC Radio Ulster
D: General Awards
D1: Community / Social Action
- Coast to Coast Challenge – Paddleboard Scotland to Northern Ireland, Cool FM
- Cork’s 96FM Giving for Living Radiothon, Cork’s 96FM
- FM104’s Get Lewis to The Gig, FM104
- Make A Wish, Newstalk
- The Big Busk for Focus Ireland, Today FM
D2: On-Air Competition / Promotion
- Blue Monday, 98FM
- FM104’s Get Lewis to The Gig, FM104
- Gallagher’s Grand Primera with Mick’s Garage on Morning Glory with PJ and Jim, Radio Nova
- Ireland’s Greatest Accent – The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Today FM
- Pass the Parcel, 98FM
D3: Station Imaging
- Q Radio
- Cork’s 96FM
- iRadio
- SPIN1038
- Today FM
D4: Entertainment Inserts
- Bonner’s blessing on SPIN’s Fully Charged, SPIN1038
- Emma, Dave and Aisling present Des Kelly the Musical, SPIN1038
- FM104’S Strawberry Alarm Clock, FM104
- Gift Grub on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Today FM
- Mollie in the Morning, Galway Bay FM
D5: Digital and Social Innovation
- Cathal’s Camino – Dermot and Dave, Today FM
- Dublin Delish, 98FM
- FM104’s #GetLewisToTheGig, FM104
- FM104’s The Buzz, FM104
- From Dreams to Victory: Sam Maguire Returns To The Kingdom, Radio Kerry
D6: Radio Station Podcast of the Year
- As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern and The Good Friday Agreement, Newstalk
- Inside the Crime: The Charles Self Murder, Newstalk
- Let Me Explain, Newstalk
- The Kinahans, Q102/Wireless/Urban Media
- Leaving Cert Music Podcast, RTÉ Lyric FM
E: People Awards
E1: Music and Entertainment Presenter of the Year
- Dara Quilty, Today FM
- Dermot Whelan, Today FM
- Emma Nolan, SPIN1038
- Nathan O’Reilly, FM104
- Pamela Joyce, Today FM
E2: Radio DJ of the Year
- Dee Woods, Radio Nova
- Michaela Hayes, SPIN1038
- Paul Bonass, 98FM
- Simon Murdoch, Cork’s 96FM
- Tracy Clifford, RTÉ 2FM
E3: Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year
- Aedín Gormley, RTÉ Lyric FM
- Ann Marie Kelly, Midlands 103
- J.J. O’Shea, Radio Kerry
- Kieran McGuinness, Radio Nova
- Stephen McCauley, BBC Radio Ulster
E4: News Broadcaster of the Year
- Ben Finnegan, Today FM
- Bryan Dobson, RTÉ Radio 1
- Chris Buckler, BBC Radio Ulster
- Declan Harvey, BBC Radio Ulster
- Justin McCarthy, RTÉ Radio 1
E5: News Reporter of the Year
- Barry Lenihan, RTÉ Radio 1
- Brian O’Connell, RTÉ Radio 1
- Emma Tyrell, 98FM
- John Cooke, RTÉ Radio 1
- Sean Defoe, Newstalk
E6: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service
- Aisling O’Reilly » Newstalk
- Damien O’Meara » RTÉ Radio 1
- Joe Molloy »Newstalk
- John Duggan » Newstalk
- Nathan Murphy » Newstalk
E7: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Local / Regional
- Austin O’Callaghan » Ocean FM
- Donal Ryan » Ocean FM
- Luke Liddy » Live 95
- Ruairí O’Hagan » Cork’s RedFM
- Shane O’Keefe » KCLR
- Tim Moynihan » Radio Kerry
E8: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service
- Ciara Kelly » Newstalk
- Pat Kenny » Newstalk
- Sean Moncrieff » Newstalk
- Shane Coleman » Newstalk
- Stephen Nolan » BBC Radio Ulster
E9: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Local / Regional
- Alan Corcoran » South East Radio
- Damien Tiernan » WLR FM
- Gerry Kelly » LMFM
- Neil Prendeville » Cork’s RedFM
- PJ Coogan » Cork’s 96FM
E10: The Gay Byrne Award – Newcomer of the Year
- David Hollywood » Midlands 103
- David Nelligan » Radio Kerry
- Donal Ryan » Ocean FM
- Elizabeth Hearst » Dublin’s Q102
- Matthew Matthews » SPIN1038
F: Station of the Year Awards
F1: Radio Moment of the Year
- A Special GloryDaze – PJ Gallagher’s Story as told to Jim McCabe » Radio Nova
- Losing My Boys To Suicide » LMFM
- My Dying Wish » Cork’s 96FM
- Radio One News at One Robert Troy Interview » RTÉ Radio 1
- The Neil Prendeville Show: “Shane Will Shine On” » Cork’s RedFM
Local Station, Music Station and National Station of the Year will be announced on the night.
If you’ve read this far, you can now find the winners here.
