Radio Kerry named station of the year

RADIO Kerry has been named as the local radio station of the year for 2005 at an awards ceremony in Dublin.

The Tralee-based station, which employs 30 people full-time and 15 part-time, won the award for its full service, including news, sport, documentaries, music and speech output.

Other Kerry winners of Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) and Broadcasting Commission (BCI) awards included veteran broadcaster Michael Ó Muircheartaigh, who received the lifetime achievement award, and Jerry O’Sullivan, who was declared sports broadcaster of the year.

Mr O’Sullivan, a native of Kenmare, is presenter of the Saturday and Sunday sports programme on the Dublin station Newstalk 106 FM.

Radio Kerry, meanwhile, is this year celebrating 15 years of broadcasting.

Station chief executive Paul Byrne said the award was recognition of the way the station did its business and the service it provided.

“It is independent recognition of the excellent job that’s done by Radio Kerry for the people of Kerry,” he said.