PPI Radio Award winners announced

The awards were presented at a ceremony in Dublin's Burlington hotel on Friday night, presided over by comedian and TV personality Dara O'Briain.

Newstalk 106-108 was once again named national station of the year, while Dublin alternative rock station Phantom FM was named as local music-driven station of the year.

Today FM's Tom Dunne won an award for his broadcast marking the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers... album, while other Today FM presenters Ian Dempsey and Ray D'Arcy were also triumphant in the breakfast and light entertainment categories respectively.

'The Jam' on Dublin's FM104 scooped the prize for general music programming, while Cork's Red FM also had a successful night, with KC winning the music broadcaster of the year gong and the station also getting the nod in the new Irish music programme (Green On Red) and community/social action (Brake The Cycle) categories.

For the first time radio stations from all 32 counties were eligible to enter and among the beneficiaries of this new policy were the McLean's Country programme on BBC Radio Ulster, as well as Stephen Nolan, who was named speech broadcaster of the year for the same station.

The full list of winners was as follows:

MUSIC PROGRAMMING AWARDS
General: The Jam (FM104)
Specialist: McClean’s Country (BBC Radio Ulster)
Breakfast Programme: The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (Today FM)
Music Special: Tom Dunne’s Sgt. Peppers 40th Anniversary Special (Today FM)
New Irish Music / Musical Talent Programme/Transmission: Green On Red - SLAYER (Cork’s Red FM 104 -106)

NEWS AND SPORTS PROGRAMMING AWARDS
News Story: The Mary Shannon Story (Clare FM)
News Programme: Lunchtime with Eamon Keane (Newstalk 106 -108)
Current Affairs Programme: Today with Pat Kenny (RTE Radio 1)
Sports Coverage: The Ryder Cup (RTE Radio 1)
Sports Programme: Off the Ball (Newstalk 106-108)

SPEECH PROGRAMMING AWARDS
Documentary: Across The Line (Shannonside, Northern Sound)
Short Feature: Don’t Be Mean Vote McKean (Moncrief, Newstalk 106 -108)
Light Entertainment Programme: The Ray D’Arcy Show (Today FM)
Drama: From Heartache to Hope – The Story Of Jeanie Johnson (Radio Kerry)
Specialist Speech Programme: Mind Matters (RTE Radio 1)

GENERAL PROGRAMMING AWARDS
Community / Social Action: Brake The Cycle (Cork’s Red FM104 -106)
On-Air Competition/Promotion: 98FM’s Dilemma (98FM)
Station Imaging: Radio Kerry
Entertainment Inserts: Gift Grub (The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, Today FM)

PERSONALITIES
Music Broadcaster of the Year: KC (Cork’s Red FM 104 -106)
News Broadcaster of the Year: Philip Boucher Hayes (RTE Radio 1)
Sports Broadcaster of the Year: Des Cahill (RTE Radio 1)
Speech Broadcaster of the Year: Stephen Nolan (BBC Radio Ulster)
Outstanding Achievement Award: Des Whelan (WLR FM)

STATION OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Local Station of the Year - Full Service: Radio Kerry
Local Station of the Year - Music Driven: Phantom FM
National Station of the Year: Newstalk 106-108