Broadcasting stars tune in to radio awards

THE stars of Irish radio were out in force last night for the industry’s annual awards night.

Veteran broadcaster Jimmy Magee was given an outstanding achievement award for his 50 years in the business.

Magee as well as his RTÉ co-stars and colleagues were joined by broadcasters from rival stations at Dublin’s Burlington Hotel for the 2006 PPI Radio Awards.

Up for grabs were awards in six categories, including station of the year, best breakfast show and specialist music programme.

Pitting local and regional radio stations against the might of RTÉ, the awards covered the best of music, news and sports broadcasting.

RTÉ Radio 1’s axed arts show Rattlebag was nominated for the best light entertainment programme award.

While RTÉ was going head-to-head with Newstalk 106FM as well as Today FM, the State broadcaster’s flagship show Morning Ireland was absent from the nominations.

Among the stations in the running for the best news story awards was Cork’s Red FM for a report about the sudden closure of a city bridalwear shop.

Newstalk 106FM’s reports on the Dublin riots was also in the running as were the Independent Network News broadcasts about the Mr A sex case.

Radio Kerry, nominated for a current affairs award for a broadcast about modern Ireland, was up against Today FM’s Matt Cooper and his Last Word show about the late Charlie Haughey.

In the running for speech broadcaster of the year were Matt Cooper, Shannonside’s Deirdre Kelly, Radio Kerry’s John Drummey and LMFM’s Michael Reade.