3.45 million adults tune in to Irish radio every weekday, as listenership figures reveal

Liveline presenter Kieran Cuddihy: The programme has 280,000 listeners, according to the latest figures.

The latest JNLR/Ipsos figures show radio remains a powerhouse in Irish media, with 3.45 million adults tuning in every weekday.

Despite streaming competition, listeners continue to turn to live radio in massive numbers — and digital listening is growing fast, now topping half a million people daily.

RTÉ Radio 1, which has had a schedule and presenter shakeup in recent months, remains the country’s number one station, attracting 1.388 million weekly listeners, up 12,000, and commanding a formidable 20.3% market share.

Morning Ireland , with new presenters in Sarah McInerney and Justin McCarthy, is again Ireland’s most-listened-to programme, with 467,000 listeners, followed by Today with David McCullagh on 440,000, Liveline on 280,000, and Drivetime on 218,000.

Weekend shows are surging: Brendan O’Connor attracts 429,000 on Saturdays and 418,000 on Sundays, while Sunday Miscellany is up by an impressive 79,000 year on year.

Head of RTÉ Radio 1 Tara Campbell said the results “cement Radio 1’s position as Ireland’s leading station across news, current affairs, and entertainment". 

RTÉ Lyric FM has joined the growth trend, reaching an all-time high of 342,000 weekly listeners and lifting its share to 3.1%. Marty in the Morning (77,000) and Lorcan Murray’s Classic Drive (67,000) remain audience pillars, while Aedín Gormley’s Movies and Musicals has risen sharply to 74,000.

At RTÉ 2FM, fresh voices and new formats are drawing younger listeners. 2FM Breakfast has 121,000 listeners, with Drive presenters Demi Isaac and Mikey O’Reilly holding strong at 126,000.

Dan Healy, head of 2FM, said: "We have experienced a small dip in our adult market share, which is not surprising when something new is introduced to a schedule. In February last year, we introduced a new breakfast and evening drive show. 

"Our evening drive show with Doireann Garrihy has had a solid start, and since October, Demi Isaac and Mikey O'Reilly have done very well holding the fort in that slot while Doireann is on maternity leave."

Today FM continues to dominate commercial radio, reaching 941,000 listeners each week — up 11,000 on the previous report — and strengthening its market share to 9%, an increase of 0.7 points year on year.

The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show remains the country’s most listened-to commercial programme, with 224,000 people tuning in each morning, a gain of 22,000 year on year.

Dave Moore has 203,000 mid-morning listeners, Louise Cantillon holds 130,000 at lunchtime, and Ray Foley reaches 159,000 in the afternoon.

Matt Cooper’s The Last Word continues its momentum with 184,000 daily listeners, while Alison Curtis, Paula MacSweeney, and Dec Pierce show strong evening and weekend growth.

Newstalk has added another 17,000 listeners, rising to 849,000 weekly, and holds a 7.5% market share.

Pat Kenny, who moves to weekends shortly, bowed out of his weekday slot on a high, with 206,000 listeners, while Off The Ball continues to dominate Irish sports radio with record weekend audiences — 161,000 on Saturdays and 157,000 on Sundays.

Managing editor Eric Moylan said the rise “sets us up well for our new schedule” launched earlier this month.

Across the wider Bauer and Onic networks — which include Today FM, 98FM, SPIN, iRadio, LMFM, and Cork’s 96FM— commercial radio delivers powerful regional numbers.

In Dublin, FM104 reaches 274,000 people weekly, Q102 has 172,000, and 98FM continues to grow, with a 5.3% market share. 

In the regions, Cork’s 96FM saw its share surge to 17%, LMFM commands 35%, and iRadio hit a record 343,000 weekly listeners.

Bauer Media Audio Ireland chief executive Chris Doyle said the results showed both “the trust and attention of millions of listeners” and the strength of Irish radio’s regional roots.

The JNLR figures underscore radio’s enduring appeal. Whether it is serious current affairs on RTÉ, entertainment on Today FM, or sports and talk on Newstalk, Irish listeners continue to tune in across generations and platforms.