Our radio station in Ireland, Midlands 103, has been nominated for a record seven prizes at leading broadcast industry event the IMRO Radio Awards.
Midlands 103, which serves communities across Laois, Offaly and Westmeath, is a full service local station offering speech and music programming across a broad schedule.
Staged by the Irish Music Rights Organisation to celebrate “the best and brightest talents across the Irish radio industry”, the IMRO Radio Awards organisers say this year saw “an unprecedented number of entries, highlighting the unwavering passion and creativity thriving within the sector”.
For Midlands 103, Midlands Today with Will Faulkner is up for the Current Affairs Programme Local / Regional award, Justice for Joe is among the finalists for the News Story prize and The Loose Cannons’ Menopause is in the running for Radio Podcast of the Year.
The Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year category includes Ann-Marie Kelly, David Hollywood is up for Sports Broadcaster of the Year Local / Regional, Courtney Callaghan is a finalist for the Gay Byrne Award for Newcomer of the Year and My Son Sits In Two Different Coffins is up for Radio Moment of the Year.
Awards delight
Midlands 103 recently acquired South East Radio, one of Ireland’s most decorated and successful broadcasting services.
The IMRO Radio Awards list of finalists included Alan Corcoran at South East Radio being shortlisted for Speech Broadcaster of the Year.
Midlands 103 Managing Director Will Faulkner said: “We are delighted to receive an unprecedented seven finalist placings at the annual celebration of the best of our industry, the IMRO Radio Awards.
“With South East Radio also recognised, our stations are a team effort so I congratulate all our colleagues for playing their part in this deserved success.
“The message of Feel Good Radio continues to guide everything we do so it is pleasing to see our work recognised and we look forward to the awards night, where we will join our peers in marking the very best of radio broadcasting in Ireland.”
Hard work
In a post on LinkedIn, head of content development Sinéad Hubble said: “I’m so proud of the Midlands 103 team, for getting seven nominations in this year’s IMRO Radio Awards. Thanks to Roy Jennings and Peter Dunne for all their hard work on the entries this year.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on October 3 at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.
Last year, Midlands 103 landed four IMRO Radio Awards prizes from five nominations. Midlands 103 won gold for ‘Are You Blind or What’ by Ann Marie Kelly in the Music, Arts and Culture Documentary category, silver for 25 Years is a Long Way Baby by Peter Dunne in the Music Special/ Music Event category and bronze for Ronan Berry’s Saturday View in the Magazine Programme sector. Midlands 103 also won bronze in the Local Station of the Year category.