Ireland

Organisers of the IMRO Radio Awards are asking for the biggest number of entries this year to celebrate the event’s 21st birthday.
Spanning categories such as music, speech programming, news, sports, Irish language, promotions, and innovation, the IMRO Radio Awards celebrate the skill and craft of great radio.
Entries for the awards open today and can feature broadcasts from the period of June 1st, 2020, to May 31st, 2021.
With the current uncertainty around indoor gatherings, the 2021 IMRO Radio Awards will be handed out at a live virtual ceremony on Friday, October 1st. The radio awards committee will closely watch public health guidelines over the coming period and will give consideration to hosting a physical event if restrictions and demand allow.
Chris Doyle, Chair of the 2021 Awards committee, said, “It is hard to believe it is 21 years of the radio awards this year. These last twelve months have been amazing for radio. We look forward to receiving a record number of entries and celebrating the amazing radio content produced on October 1st. I would like to thank our sponsors IMRO for their continued support of the awards; without them, the awards would not be possible.’
Eleanor McEvoy, Chairperson of title sponsors, IMRO, said, “Over this past year and a half, the debt we owe to radio has been more apparent than ever. We have relied on our broadcasters not only to entertain us but to educate us and to keep us connected at a time when so many of us were alone. I am delighted that on October 1st, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the radio professionals who are outstanding in their respective fields. On behalf of IMRO, I would like to wish all the entrants who have contributed so much to the broadcasting sector the very best of luck at this year’s awards.”
Retiring Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Michael O’Keefe, said of his final Radio Awards “The annual IMRO Radio Awards are upon us once again, and radio programmers across the length and breadth of the country will be busy putting their entries together. The BAI has been proud to support the Radio Awards from the very beginning, and we salute once again all those involved in making high-quality programmes for their listeners. It is the second year of the Covid 19 pandemic, and it is to the enormous credit of the radio sector in Ireland that the high standard of programming has been maintained throughout this challenging period. For my own part, this is my final year as CEO of the BAI, and it has been a privilege to have been associated with these Awards since they were introduced to recognise excellence in the sector back in 2001”.
Details of categories, entry criteria and how to enter can be found here. […]

The thirteenth annual Cork’s 96FM’s Giving for Living Radiothon has ended with a total of €385,566.
It brings the cumulative total raised so far by Radiothons run by the Wireless Group station to in excess of €5.4 million.
Money raised this year is to support Cancer Services in Cork provided through the five local charity partners, Mercy Hospital Foundation; CUH Charity; Marymount Hospice; ARC Cancer Support House and Breakthrough Cancer Research.
Following the decision to cancel the 2020 event owing to the pandemic, Radiothon went ahead this year in a scaled-back fashion which was in line with the current COVID 19 restrictions.
Outside broadcasts from the Mercy Hospital and CUH were replaced with special programmes presented by 96FM’s on-air team based at Broadcasting House.
Despite restrictions, listeners held fundraising events right across Cork City and County. These included “Virtual Coffee Breaks” and school “No Uniform Days.”
Bus Eireann drivers operated the city’s biggest collection box which this year was an open-top bus at Cork’s Bus Station on Parnell Place. They collected over €11,000.
Speaking to the Opinion Line programme on the first day of Radiothon, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, described it as “one of the great fixtures in Cork’s fundraising calendars.”
“It’s fantastic to see the Giving for Living Radiothon back on Cork’s 96FM this year. It’s great that you have managed to organise and get it back onboard this year” he said.
Group Station Director of Cork’s 96FM & C103 Kieran McGeary told RadioToday: “The Cork’s 96FM Giving for Living Radiothon is all about the people of Cork coming together and generating money to support local cancer services.
“The generosity of the people of Cork never ceases to amaze us. That’s highlighted by the fantastic sum raised in just three days yet again. And we expect that total may increase in the days and weeks ahead.” […]

Donncha O’Callaghan and Carl Mullan are to co-host the 2FM breakfast show as Doireann Garrihy returns from 31st May 2021.
The trio will be on-air 6am till 9am weekdays, replacing the previous show with Eoghan McDermott and Doireann.
Doireann says: “It’s a brand-new show with a brand-new sound and feel. We’ve had endless craic while plotting over the past few weeks and I just know that our listeners will love it.”
Dan Healy, head of 2FM adds: “This is a very exciting new breakfast show for RTÉ 2FM with two new voices for breakfast radio joining Doireann,” says head of RTÉ 2FM.
“From Monday, May 31st, there will be an injection of great fun from Doireann, Donncha and Carl along with great music which will have Ireland in top form every day. A very well done to Tara Stewart and Stephan Byrne who kept us all entertained while Doireann and the team were at the ideas factory!”

📻 The news is out and we are VERY excited 🎉#2FMBreakfast with @DoireannGarrihy, @docallaghan4 and @CarlMullan
The new trio start Monday 31st May, don’t miss any of the fun.
📻 RTÉ 2FM Breakfast | 6am–9am weekdays on @RTE2fm pic.twitter.com/9ls4NovWTF
— RTÉ (@rte) May 24, 2021

More follows. […]

Steven Cooper is returning to iRadio on May 28th to host breakfast with Kayte O’Malley.
Steven was previously at iRadio between 2013 and 2016, and Kayte has been a regular on the weekend line-up on iRadio for the past two years and will be filling in for Oonagh O’Carroll who is off on maternity leave.
iRadio in The Morning with Cooper and Kayte kicks off Friday May 28th from 7 AM – 10 AM.
Steven said: “I’m so buzzed to be back at iRadio! The team here has always been family and the station has been a massive part of my life, so this feels like a real homecoming.”
iRadio’s CEO Mark Cunning added: “It’s been a horrible 14 months. As we look around us, we can see things are getting better. Things are getting better at iRadio too! We’ve made a few tweaks to our schedule across the last couple of months. The final part of the puzzle is launching our brand-new breakfast show.
“We all need more fun, spontaneity and craic and I know that’s exactly what our audience are going to get from iRadio in the Morning with Cooper & Kayte.” […]

98FM’s Brian Maher will take to Dublin’s Phoenix Park today (Thursday) in a bid to complete a 24Hour Runathon which aims to raise €24,000 for Special Olympics Ireland.
Brian – presenter of The Big Ride Home and a big fitness enthusiast is no stranger to undertaking ambitious challenges in aid of Special Olympics Ireland, having run, swam and cycled previously raising over €75,000 for the charity in the process.
This morning at 9am, Brian began his solo runathon, which is approximately 160KM through the Phoenix Park and arrive at the finish line at 9am on Friday morning – continuing his quest throughout the night, whatever the Dublin weather throws at him.
Speaking ahead of his 24Hour Runathon, Brian said: “I’m really excited and also a bit nervous to be undertaking yet another endurance challenge, pushing my body to the limit.
“However, I know I have great support from my family, colleagues and 98FM listeners which will spur me on, but most importantly, it’s a privilege for me to be teaming up once again with Special Olympics to raise as much money as we can.”
Matt English, CEO, Special Olympics Ireland commented: “Brian embodies our Can’t Stop Now ethos and I wish him all the best of luck as he embarks on this challenge today. Brian continues to take positive steps towards supporting our athletes who have had to overcome many challenges in their daily lives, and that was before the pandemic hit.
“I urge everyone to support him by making a donation today, no matter how small. Each donation will go towards supporting Special Olympics athletes across Ireland as we adapt to a post COVID world with a return to sports and other related activities.”
Brian will be cheered on throughout his run by his 98FM colleagues as a number of shows will broadcast from the Phoenix Park from 10am-10pm on Thursday, keeping listeners updated on his progress and encouraging people to donate what they can to Special Olympics Ireland.
Brian’s 24Hour Runathon kicks off Special Olympic Ireland’s annual national fundraising day, which takes place on Friday 28th May. While Covid means the annual fundraising day can’t physically take place, Special Olympics Ireland is asking people to donate online instead.
To donate to Brian’s 24Hour Runathon, go to 98fm.com/donate and listen to 98FM for the latest on Brian’s progress and fundraising updates. […]