RTE Radio One wins top PPI Radio award

RTÉ Radio One took what is widely considered the ultimate accolade, the National Station of the Year Award wresting the title from Newstalk.

But in many ways the emergence of Radio Ulster as a fore was the most significant change in this year's awards. They took the Local Regional Station of the Year Award. They also scooped two music awards, with Across The Line the New Irish Music/ Musical Talent Programming Award and A Beautiful Day winning a Special Music Award. Both programmes are presented by Rigsy and produced by Paul McClean. In addition Stephen Nolan won the Speech Broadcaster of the Year award, for his daily programme, which follows the 9 o'clock news every weekday morning, while Kevin Magee was crowned News Reporter of the Year.

In all, RTÉ snatched 10 awards, including News Broadcaster of the Year (Sean O'Rourke); News Programme of the Year: Morning Ireland (presented by Aine Lawlor, Cathal McColiie and Richard Downes); Current Affairs Programme of the Year: Today with Pat Kenny (produced by Kay Sheehy); News story of the Year: Bye Bye Bertie; Documentary of the Year: The Diary of Leanne Wolfe; Feature item of the Year: The Curious Ear's Meat Factory Worms (presented by Ronan Kelly and Richie Beirne); Drama of the Year: Sunday Playhouse's The Shepherd; Specialist Music programme of the Year: Jazz on the Bay.

There was a personal triumph for Tony Fenton, who won the Music Broadcaster of the Year for Today FM – an award many involved in music will feel is thoroughly deserved. "The thing about Tony is that he has never lost his enthusiasm," one record business insider told Hot Press. "And he is prepared to give Irish music a chance where a lot of others don't bother."

Also deservedly among the awards were Q102's Scott Wiliams and Venetia Quick, FM104's Andy Preston and the Strawberry Alarm Clock's Terry Fahy, Jim McCabe and Niamh Crowley, while there was an Outstanding Achievement Award for RTÉ's Marian Finnucane.

To see the full list of winners, click here.