The big winners list for the IMRO Radio Awards 2021

All the winners have been announced for the IMRO Radio Awards at an ceremony hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dermot Whelan.

Over 2,000 people in the radio industry across the whole island of Ireland logged on to watch the ceremony of which an Award is a prized accolade to take home.

At the start of the evening the Hall of Fame inductees for this year – Declan Meehan, George Hamilton, Patricia Messinger and Stephen Clements RIP were recognised.

The special award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Learning Waves, the training provider for the independent commercial radio sector in Ireland.

The big three awards for the evening were won by:

  • Local Station of the Year – WLR FM – Third year in a row
  • Music Station of the Year – Spin 1038
  • Full Service Station of the Year – BBC Radio Ulster

Chair of the IMRO Radio Awards committee, Chris Doyle, who spoke at the Awards said: “2021 is the biggest year on record for entries, so thank you very much to everyone who entered, it is great to see such enthusiasm and passion for the content being produced across the island.

Radio continues to show its power, flexibility and importance to the Irish people this year and while we continue to keep listeners informed and educated, it is brilliant coming out of the pandemic to hear how we entertain and lift listeners lives”

Eleanor McEvoy, Chair of sponsors IMRO Ireland said “On behalf of IMRO, I would like to give my heartfelt congratulations to the winners of this year’s IMRO Radio Awards. We saw over the course of the pandemic how much we relied on radio to bring us immediately up to speed with what was happening in a world that to many felt frightening and isolating. As we were told to separate from family and friends, radio served to connect us. The winners of these awards have been chosen because of their excellence in broadcasting, and I would like to say a profound thanks to them for their service to radio in Ireland.”

BAI Deputy Chief Executive, Celene Craig, commented “The BAI is delighted to support the IMRO Radio Awards again this year. The annual Awards illustrate the range of talent working in the radio sector, and I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners tonight. This event also serves to  highlight and acknowledge the dedication of those working in radio to deliver, on a daily basis, diverse and high quality programming for audiences, especially in such a difficult year. Our thanks and congratulations to all involved in the delivery of the awards tonight.”

 

Category code:Category name: Gold: EntrantGold: Station Silver: EntrantSilver: StationBronze: EntrantBronze: Station 
A1General Music Programme 98FM’s The Fix with Ciarán O’Connor98FMiRadio in the Afternoon with Dave and FionnualaiRadioThe Zoo Crew with Jaz and LauraSPIN1038
A2Specialist Music Programme Simply FolkRTÉ Radio 1The Lyric Concert with Paul Herriott – Remembering John LennonRTÉ Lyric FMBlas CeoilBBC Radio Ulster
A3Breakfast ProgrammeKC and Ross in the MorningCork’s 96FMFully Charged with Graham and NathanSPIN1038The Ian Dempsey Breakfast ShowToday FM
A4Music Special / Music EventMise Freisin’RTÉ Radio 1RTÉ Choice Music Prize withTracy CliffordRTÉ 2FMDustpod for Ireland’s Classic HitsIreland’s Classic Hits
A5Irish Music Programme or InitiativeATL IntroducingBBC Radio UlsterSPIN ALT with Ray WingnutSPIN South West2FM Rising with Tracy CliffordRTÉ 2FM
        
B1News Story / News Event Trouble at the InterfaceBBC Radio UlsterDouble Blow for Cork TradersCork’s 96FMSection 252 – An Unspeakable PainNewstalk
B2News Programme – Full ServiceMorning Ireland – Cyber attackRTÉ Radio 1The Resignation of Arlene Foster – Evening ExtraBBC Radio UlsterThis WeekRTÉ Radio 1
B3News Programme – Local/Regional WLR News at 1WLR FMExtended News BulletinCork’s 96FMThe Breakfast ShowBBC Radio Foyle
B4Current Affairs Programme – Full ServiceThe Pat Kenny ShowNewstalkOn the RecordNewstalkNewstalk BreakfastNewstalk
B5Current Affairs Programme – Local / RegionalTipp TodayTipp FMDeise TodayWLR FMLet’s Talk – ‘In the Line of Duty’Shannonside FM
B6Sports StoryThe Gordon Elliott ScandalNewstalkJack Charlton – Player, Manager and GrandadRTÉ Radio 1Carrick to the Champs-ÉlyséesWLR FM
B7 Sports Programme – Full ServiceJoey Dunlop – King of the RoadRTÉ Radio 1Rachael’s DayRTÉ Radio 1Off The BallNewstalk
B8Sports Programme – Local / Regional The Passing of Jerry KiernanRadio KerryDublin’s Talking SportSunshine 106.8The Covid Cup 2020 ChampionshipShannonside Northern Sound
        
C1DocumentaryDocumentary on One: A Very Irish CoupRTÉ Radio 1Documentary on One: The Grief of a NationRTÉ Radio 1Assume Nothing: Did the Right Man Hang?BBC Radio Ulster
C2Music, Arts and Culture DocumentaryThe Music Biz RTÉ 2FMBy the Lakes of PonchartrainRTÉ Radio 1COWRed Hare Media for RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
C3Short FeatureBig Breakfast Little StoriesWLR FMThe Midlands 103 VaultMidlands 103CountryWide – Farm Diary from Hannah Quinn MulliganRTÉ Radio 1
C4Magazine ProgrammeThe Ray D’Arcy Show RTÉ Radio 1MoncrieffNewstalkiRadio’s The HubiRadio
C5Drama Belong by Daithí McMahon and Fred O’ConnorNewstalkDrama On One: Quicksand by Elizabeth MoynihanRTÉ Radio 1The Emperor’s New DudsRTÉjr Radio
C6Specialist Speech ProgrammeThe Long and the Short of itBBC Radio UlsterThe History FixKCLRSPIN Ar ScoilSPIN South West
C7Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge Pop RaidióSPIN1038Barrscéalta RTÉ Raidió Na GaeltachtaRTÉ Raidió Na GaeltachtaSplancNewstalk
C8Interactive Speech Programme Liveline – Breaking the Menopause TabooRTÉ Radio 1Stephen Nolan ShowBBC Radio UlsterMy Son Jason – Ireland’s Mental HealthCork’s RedFM
D1Community / Social ActionMoyross – The Forgotten Part of LimerickNewstalkStand Up Awareness WeekRTÉ 2FMBrian Maher’s 24-Hour Runathon98FM 
D2On-Air Competition / Promotion Gotta Get It Wrong with Graham and NathanSPIN1038Waffle – The Ian Dempsey Breakfast ShowToday FMSPIN’s €5k Phone CallSPIN1038
D3 Station Imaging98FM98FMiRadioiRadioFM104 FM104 
D4Entertainment InsertsGift Grub – The Ian Dempsey Breakfast ShowToday FMDermot and DaveToday FMFully Charged – Challenge GrahamSPIN1038
D5Digital and Social Innovation Shine Festival 2021Media Central iRadio’s TikTok Mic DropiRadio#StopTheShame CampaignNewstalk 
D6 Podcast of the Year GunPlotRTÉEcolutionRTÉShow me the Science Newstalk 
        
E1Music & Entertainment Presenter of the YearDermot WhelanToday FMJim-Jim NugentFM104Ray FoleyCork’s Red FM
E2Radio DJ of the YearLorraine MurphyCork’s 96FMBrian McEvoyiRadioTracy CliffordRTÉ 2FM
E3Specialist Music Broadcaster of the YearRalph McLeanBBC Radio UlsterClaire BeckToday FMStuart BanfordDowntown Country
E4News Broadcaster of the YearJustin McCarthyRTÉ Radio 1Fionnuala CorbettiRadioNiall ColbertToday FM
E5News Reporter of the YearJohn Cooke Drivetime RTÉ Radio 1Brian O’Connell RTÉ Radio 1Sasha Wylie Downtown Radio/Cool FM 
E6Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service Joe MolloyNewstalkMichael McNameeBBC Radio UlsterEoin SheahanNewstalk
E7Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Local / RegionalEric WhiteBBC Radio FoyleSean Mc CaffreyShannonside Northern SoundDave HooperShannonside Northern Sound
E8Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Full ServiceCiara KellyNewstalkPat KennyNewstalkMatt CooperToday FM
E9Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Local / RegionalDamien TiernanWLR FMMark PattersonBBC Radio FoyleSheila NaughtonShannonside Northern Sound
E10Gay Byrne – Newcomer of the Year Tara McCormackMidlands 103Sarah MaddenNewstalkJordan HumphriesQ Radio
        
F1Radio Moment of the Year Saved by an AngelLMFMLynsey Bennett on The Hard ShoulderNewstalkDrivetime – Sarah McInerney and Eoghan Harris interviewRTÉ Radio 1
F2Local Station of the YearWLR FMWLR FMRadio KerryRadio KerryClare FMClare FM
F3Music Station of the YearSPIN1038SPIN1038 iRadio iRadio98FM98FM
F4National Station of the yearBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterToday FMToday FMNewstalkNewstalk

This story first appeared on Radio Today