90 Judges have spent the past week deliberating over the record number of 677 entries for the IMRO Radio Awards 2017. Having listened to almost 295 hours of the best of radio from both sides of the border, the 2017 Radio Awards have been the most hotly contested in their 17 years of existence. National, local and DAB broadcasters, producers and station staff have worked tirelessly to present the best of their work as an entry to this year’s awards. Over 185 nominees are today announced as the #IMRO17 shortlist.

The 2017 IMRO Radio Awards (formerly known as the PPI Radio Awards) will take place on Friday October 6th at the Lyrath Estate Hotel at a gala dinner where the secret golden envelopes will be opened to reveal the winners. Top names in Irish radio both on and off air make the trip to Kilkenny for the biggest night of the year in the radio industry in Ireland. Prior to the night, the Hall of Fame inductees will be announced on Friday 22nd September at a special event to be held at the BAI offices in Dublin.

Speaking about the judging process and quality of the entries, Awards Committee Chairperson Sean Murtagh said “The record number of entries is an indicator of the continuing level of support the radio industry has for the Awards. The judges, who are all drawn from the Irish radio industry, all commented on the quality of entries this year which made for a difficult decision process.”

General Music Programme
The Big Ride Home with Dara Quilty 98FM
Gerry Kelly BBC Radio Ulster
Tracy Clifford Show RTÉ 2FM
Dermot & Dave Today FM
Off The Charts with Fergal D'Arcy Today FM

Specialist Music Programme
Soundscapes: The Potter BBC Radio Foyle
Jazz World with Linley Hamilton BBC Radio Ulster
The Roadhouse Café Midlands 103
Living in the 80s with Will Leahy RTÉ Gold
Vox Nostra with Vlad Smishkewych RTÉ Lyric FM
The Paul McLoone Show Today FM
Songs in the Key of Life

Breakfast Programme
98FM's Big Breakfast 98FM
PJ and Jim in the Morning Classic Hits 4FM
FM104's The Strawberry Alarm Clock with Jim-Jim and
Nobby FM104
Breakfast with Ray and Jay Red FM
The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show Today FM

Music Special
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Clare FM
European Early Music Day RTÉ Lyric FM
Ray D'Arcy Show - Imelda May Special RTÉ Radio 1
ALT - Laurie Shaw Special Spin South West
Paul McLoone "It was 50 years ago today, Sgt Pepper
taught the band to play" Today FM

New Irish Music / Musical Talent Programme
98FM's Totally Irish 98FM
Meantime RTÉ Lyric FM
ALT - Guerilla Sessions Spin South West
Lost in Music with Louise Duffy Today FM
The Drive Home Live Sessions WLR

News Story
The Death of Martin McGuinness BBC Radio Foyle
The Stephen Nolan Show - The RHI Scandal BBC Radio Ulster
A Divisive Legacy - The Death of Martin McGuinness BBC Radio Ulster
Tragedy in Kilkee Clare FM
Anthony Foley - Passing and Funeral Coverage Limerick's Live 95FM

News Bulletin
98FM News 98FM
Newstalk 106-108FM Newstalk 106-108fm
Q Radio News Bulletin Q Radio
2FM Bilingual News RTÉ 2FM
Today FM News Today FM

News Programme
A City in Mourning: The Funerals of Martin McGuinness
and Ryan McBride BBC Radio Foyle
Terror at Manchester Arena BBC Radio Ulster
Brexit: The Vote that Shook the World RTÉ Radio 1
News at One: Tusla apologise to Whistle Blower RTÉ Radio 1
The National Lunchtime News Today FM

Current Affairs Programme
Anthony "Axel" Foley - The Man Limerick's Live 95FM
Newstalk Drive - President Trump Newstalk 106-108fm
Resurrecting the Inner City Newstalk 106-108fm
Brexit Special - Live from Oriel Centre Gaol, Dundalk RTÉ Radio 1
Heartbeat South East Radio
Matt Cooper - Live from New York Today FM

Sports Story
A Warrior on the Field BBC Radio Foyle
Women in Sport Beat 102-103
Axel - The Day that Shook the Sporting World Limerick's Live 95FM
We All Dream - Ireland at the Euros 2016 Newstalk 106-108fm
Man in the Van RTÉ Radio 1

Sports Programme
Stories in Sound: Split the Sap BBC Radio Ulster
Off the Ball Weekday Newstalk 106-108fm
Off the Ball Live Newstalk 106-108fm
Saturday Sport RTÉ Radio 1
Dermot & Dave Do The Euros Today FM

Documentary/Feature
Bullets and Ballots in the Banner County Clare FM
Bones of Contention RTÉ Lyric FM
No Time To lose RTÉ Radio 1
We Decide Who Lives or Dies RTÉ Radio 1
Anatomy of an Irish Serial Killer RTÉ Radio 1

Music Documentary
The Green Fields of France BBC Radio Ulster
1977 Cathal Funge
Aon Richie Eile KCLR
Sin E: Jeff Buckey's Irish Odyssey RTÉ Radio 1
Someone to watch over me: The Music Manager RTÉ Radio 1

Short Feature
Love Letters From The Front BBC Radio Ulster
The Pat Kenny Show: A History of Scandal in the
Catholic Church Newstalk 106-108fm
The Pat Kenny Show: The Walk of Fame - Gene Wilder Newstalk 106-108fm
Belfast Is… Q Radio
Keepsakes Radio Kerry
The History Show: A Lemonade Bottle Red Hare Media

Magazine Programme
The John Toal Show BBC Radio Ulster
Late Lunch LMFM
Moncrieff: Movies and Booze Newstalk 106-108fm
Maureen Flanagan's Life With The Kray Twins RTÉ Radio 1
The Ray D'Arcy Show RTÉ Radio 1

Drama
Home Newstalk 106-108fm
I Seek Refuge RTÉ Radio 1
Drama on One: Harder Faster More by Tracy Martin RTÉ Radio 1
Drama on One: Flight Risk RTÉ Radio 1
Terms and Conditions WLR

Specialist Speech Programme
Irish Scientists East Coast FM
Living with Locked-In Syndrome Newstalk 106-108fm
Wellfest Newstalk 106-108fm
The Golden Man: The Mystery of Peter Bergmann Ocean FM
Joseph O'Connor's Into The Mystic RTÉ Radio 1

Craoltoireacht le Gaeilge
Blas BBC Radio Ulster
Operation Gaeilge Mid West Radio
Cormac ag a Cuig RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta
Pop Raidio Spin South West
Ceolas Today FM Today FM

Interactive Speech Programme
The Stephen Nolan Show: RHI Scandal BBC Radio Ulster
The Niall Boylan Show Classic Hits 4FM
The Neil Prendeville Show: Breaking the Silence Red FM
Spin Talk: 13 Reasons Why - Is it doing more harm than good? Spin 1038
The Frank Mitchell Phone-in: Manchester Attack U105

Comedy Programme
The Blame Game BBC Radio Ulster
Whats Snots 13 Years later Ocean FM
Chris & Ciara RTÉ 2FM
Callan's Kicks RTÉ Radio 1
Colm O'Regan Wants A Word Sideline Productions for RTÉ Radio 1

Community/Social Action
On Your Behalf: Caring for the Carers BBC Radio Ulster
Hell on Earth Clare FM
Cork's 96FM Giving for Living Radiothon Cork's 96FM
Late Lunch: Wheels for John LMFM
The Midlands 103 Christmas Road Safety Campaign Midlands 103
Dare to Care Today FM

On-Air Competitions / Promotions
98FM's Big Slide Home 98FM
The Coffin Lock-In Beat 102-103
iRadio's Chicken Dance iRadio
The Chosen One on Cork's Red FM Red FM
Off The Charts with Fergal D'Arcy Today FM

Station Imaging
98FM 98FM
FM104 FM104
RTÉ 2FM RTÉ 2FM
Spin 1038 Spin 1038
Today FM Today FM

Entertainment Inserts
FM104's Strawberry Alarm Clock FM104
iRadio's "A Dose of the Skits" iRadio
Breakfast Republic RTÉ 2FM
Gift Grub Today FM
Dermot & Dave Today FM

Innovation
98FM's Big Slide Home 98FM
Jim Stands Up Classic Hits 4FM
The Niall Boylan Show: Stranger Things Classic Hits 4FM
Ed Sheeran at The Odeon FM104
Off The Ball Roadshow Newstalk 106-108fm
Liveline 1917 RTÉ Radio 1

Music Broadcaster
Dara Quilty 98FM
Jim-Jim Nugent FM104
Ian Dempsey Today FM
Fergal D'Arcy Today FM
Dermot Whelan Today FM

Radio DJ
Steve Haze Cork's 96FM
Emma Nolan iRadio
Steve K Spin 1038
Peter Collins Spin 1038
Louise Duffy Today FM

Specialist Music Broadcaster
Stephen McCauley BBC Radio Foyle
John Toal BBC Radio Ulster
Rob O'Connor Beat 102-103
Darren Rice Beat 102-103
Ray Wingnut Spin South West

News Broadcaster
Brendan O'Loughlin 98FM
William Crawley BBC Radio Ulster
Sarah McInerney Newstalk 106-108fm
Colm O Mongain RTÉ Radio 1
Susan Keogh Today FM

News Reporter
Kevin Magee BBC Radio Ulster
Shona Murray Newstalk 106-108fm
Fergal Keane RTÉ Radio 1
Brian O'Connell RTÉ Radio 1
Gavan Reilly Today FM

Sports Broadcaster
Eric White BBC Radio Foyle
Ger Gilroy Newstalk 106-108fm
Joe Molloy Newstalk 106-108fm
Joanne Cantwell RTÉ Radio 1
Marty Morrissey RTÉ Radio 1

Speech Broadcaster
Mark Patterson BBC Radio Foyle
Stephen Nolan BBC Radio Ulster
Niall Delaney Ocean FM
Neil Prendeville Red FM
Damien O'Reilly RTÉ Radio 1
Alan Corcoran South East Radio

Newcomer
Una Kelly BBC Radio Foyle
Shane Todd BBC Radio Ulster
Dave Duke iRadio
Caroline Gauley Shannonside Northern
Sound
Al Porter Today FM

Best Live Sound - Music
John Benson BBC Radio Ulster
Davy Neill BBC Radio Ulster
Mark Lavin Clare FM
Conor Behan RTÉ 2FM
Michael Lee RTÉ Lyric FM