Ireland

Radio broadcasters John Bowman, Fr. Brian D’Arcy and Scott Williams are to be inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame this year.
Their achievements will be marked at a ceremony on Tuesday 30 September at the IMRO offices, ahead of the annual IMRO Radio Awards gala at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny on Friday 3 October.
The Hall of Fame celebrates broadcasters who have left a lasting legacy on Irish radio. Chair of the IMRO Radio Awards, Chris Doyle, said the honour reflects “enduring excellence, passion, and dedication to the craft of broadcasting.”
John Bowman is a historian, journalist and long-time RTÉ broadcaster. He has covered politics and current affairs for over six decades, hosting programmes such as Day by Day, Today Tonight and Questions and Answers, while also presenting television documentaries and authoring books on Irish history and broadcasting. Since 1988 he has presented Bowman: Sunday 8.30 on RTÉ Radio 1, a reflective journey through the radio archives.
Fr. Brian D’Arcy is a familiar voice to audiences in Ireland and beyond, best known for his reflective music and conversation shows on BBC Radio Ulster, including Sunday with Brian D’Arcy. He has also presented on RTÉ and BBC Radio 2, combining his broadcasting work with over 50 years of writing, including a long-standing Sunday World column and several published books.
Scott Williams was the first voice heard on independent radio in Dublin when Capital Radio, later FM104, launched in 1989. Over his career he has been a presenter, Programme Director, Chief Executive and Group Content Director for Wireless Ireland, leading stations including FM104, Q102, U105 and Cork’s 96FM. His leadership roles included chairing both IBI and JNLR, helping to deliver initiatives such as the Irish Radioplayer app and the Choose Radio campaign.
Together, the three inductees represent a blend of public service journalism, spiritual and cultural connection, and innovation in independent radio. Their contributions highlight the diversity and strength of Irish broadcasting. […]

Radio Nova presenters PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe are once again leading The Dickie Dip, an annual men’s skinny dip in aid of men’s cancer care at Dublin’s Mater Hospital.
The Morning Glory hosts will join hundreds of men on Skerries beach on Saturday 8th November, calling on others to take part and raise funds. Since the event began in 2019, more than €600,000 has been raised for cancer services.
PJ, who first joined the dip last year, said: “If a few minutes in the Irish Sea can help raise awareness and funds for men’s cancer care, then we’ll happily strip off and dive back in. It’s cold, it’s mad, it’s a laugh – and it could save lives.”
Jim added: “The Dickie Dip is about more than just the craic, it’s about looking out for each other and making sure men get the care they need. We’ll be there, goosebumps and all, and we want as many lads as possible to join us.”
The dip is now in its sixth year and continues to grow. Last year’s event raised €186,000 and attracted over 400 participants. Organisers are aiming to surpass that total in 2025 with the largest gathering yet.
Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of the Mater Hospital Foundation, said the courage and camaraderie of the participants was inspiring: “Every year, we are inspired by the fearlessness and commitment of our Dickie Dip participants, many of whom have been impacted directly by cancer – either through a diagnosis themselves, or by that of a loved one.”
Men can register for this year’s event at materfoundation.ie/dickiedip, where each participant will receive a free bow tie and a personalised fundraising page. […]

Coimisiún na Meán has opened applications for its latest Sponsorship Scheme, offering around €300,000 to support media-related events and activities across Ireland.
The scheme will provide funding for events that align with the regulator’s Strategy Statement and its wider goal of building a thriving and safe media landscape. Proposals will be assessed on their relevance, value for money, and promotional plans, as well as how they connect with the work of Coimisiún na Meán.
Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill said the initiative will highlight “the diversity, creativity and innovation within the Irish media sector” and encouraged organisations to apply. He added that the programme aims to support “a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative, and that reflects who we are as a society.”
Previous awardees include Radiodays Ireland, the Choice Music Prize, the Irish Film and Television Awards, GORM Gathering 2025, the Dingle Animation Festival, the GAZE Film Festival and Gradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais.
Applications are now open and must be submitted by midday on 21 October this year. A guide for applicants and the application form can be found on the Coimisiún na Meán website.

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Nearly €750,000 has been awarded to independent radio producers across Ireland in the latest round of Sound and Vision funding.
Coimisiún na Meán confirmed almost €6.5 million for radio and television projects nationwide, with radio accounting for 39 of the 57 successful applications.
The scheme supports programmes across national, regional, local and community radio, with formats ranging from music and drama to education and documentaries.
Stations getting programmes as a result are:

RTE Radio 1
RTE 2fm
RTE lyric fm
Clare FM
Newstalk
NEAR 90fm
Ocean FM
KCLR
Raidio na Gaeltachta
Raidio na Life
LMFM
Radio Kerry
Athlone Community Radio
WLR FM
Community Radio Youghal
UCC

Among the radio projects funded are Poetic Keys: An Ode to County Clare, which pairs local poetry with live traditional piano music for broadcast on Clare FM, and Lessons in Awe, a Radio Kerry series exploring family, sport, nature and courage with input from a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
Irish Music Month 2025 also secured support. This initiative, produced by Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, will see commercial stations across the country increase airplay for Irish artists throughout the month.
Irish language broadcasting continues to receive strong backing, with just under half of the overall funding directed towards Irish language or bilingual content. Projects include Cuan an Cheoil 6, a 10-part live music series for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, hosted by Liam Ó Maonlaí and recorded at Stiúideo Cuan.
Independent radio producers will share around €750,000, ensuring new programming reaches audiences of all ages and interests. In total, 97% of this round’s funding will directly support the independent production sector.
Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner with Coimisiún na Meán, said the projects will deliver “countless hours of programming, in Irish and English, for audiences of all ages and from all backgrounds.” He added that demand for funding was almost four times greater than the money available, reflecting the scheme’s importance to both creativity and sustainability in broadcasting.
Since January, more than €14 million has been allocated through Sound and Vision. Round 56 funding alone will result in programmes broadcast across RTÉ, Virgin Media, TG4, Clare FM, Radio Kerry, Near FM, and many other independent stations. […]

The New York Festivals 2026 Radio Awards is now open for entries, with a new Video Podcast category added for the first time.
The international competition celebrates creative excellence in audio storytelling, with 14 category groups ranging from news, documentaries and talk programmes to on-air talent, craft and entertainment.
Organisers say the new Video Podcast category reflects the growing role of visual storytelling alongside traditional audio. Rose Anderson, Executive VP and Executive Director, said the awards have “championed the art of storytelling across every platform” for nearly seven decades.
The competition, which began in 1957, continues to evolve with new categories recognising digital, podcast, and audiobook content as well as traditional radio formats. The awards also highlight investigative journalism, nonfiction series, and social justice storytelling through partnerships with JusticeAid and the National Press Club.
The National Press Club Award, introduced in 2023, honours the top-scoring news programme across breaking news, continuing coverage, nonfiction series and news podcast categories. Last year, Master Plan (The Lever) was named as the winner.
In 2025, Grand Awards went to Bafflegab Productions for The Man Who Fell to Earth in Entertainment, Bucket of Eels for Tested in Podcast: Sports, and Smoke Trail Productions for Buried: The Last Witness in Documentary. Sports journalist Lesley Visser received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The next Storytellers Gala will be held in May 2026, following last year’s virtual event hosted from Central Park. The gala showcases winning entries, speeches, and highlights from around the world.
Entries for the 2026 awards must have been produced, released, aired or streamed between January 1 last year and January 31 this year. The deadline for submissions is 31 January 2026.
Further details and entry information are available on the New York Festivals Radio Awards website. […]

Creators now have until Friday 19 September at 5pm to enter the inaugural All-Ireland Podcast Awards, part of the new Sound.Waves. summit in Adare.

The awards form a key part of the two-day summit taking place from 12 to 13 November, which is designed to celebrate and showcase the Irish audio sector.
The All-Ireland Podcast Awards will highlight storytelling, innovation and cultural impact across the industry, with the aim of recognising and supporting talented creators and their work.
A spokesperson for the awards said: “The response to the inaugural awards has been incredible. The quality and diversity of entries so far are truly world-class, and we’re excited to see what else comes in with this extension.”
The Sound.Waves. summit will also feature talks and sessions from innovators across podcasting, music and content creation, focusing on the business of content through creativity and commerce. Details of speakers will be announced shortly.
For more information about the Sound.Waves. summit visit soundwaves.ie.

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