Lyric FM scales the heights with two broadcasting awards

CHAMPAGNE glasses were raised at the double for Lyric FM which was named at the weekend as the top national station and overall radio station of the year.

National broadcaster RTE secured eight of the 27 awards which included Morning Ireland as the Best News Programme and Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh as the Sports Broadcaster of the Year.

Sponsored by Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, over 200 entries were received from the country’s national and local radio stations for the second annual PPI Awards.

New entrants to the broadcasting field also made their mark with Cork’s RedFM winning three outright awards while Newstalk 106 was honoured for its current affairs programme.

The country’s top local station was the Louth/Meath-based LMFM for a second successive year. Dick Doyle, chief executive of PPI, said the awards were a celebration of the art and skill of radio production and programming.

“The contribution that radio makes to all our lives is significant,” he said. “The awards honour the contribution of writers, reporters, presenters and technicians in informing, educating and entertaining listeners throughout Ireland.”

He said that over 200 nominations were received for the 27 categories which involved the co-operation of 46 judges from Ireland and abroad.

News Broadcaster of the Year was Lana O’Connor of RedFM who edged out Rachael English of RTE Radio 1 and Highland Radio pair Joanne Sweeney /Jerome Hughes.

RTE’s Pat Kenny was one of only two shortlisted for the Current Affairs Broadcaster of the Year which was won by LMFM’s Paul Maguire.

RTE Radio 1’s World Cup shows secured the award for best sports coverage.