Today FM Wins National Station of the Year as the Independent Radio Sector Wins 28 Gold Awards at the IMROs 2025.

The IMRO Radio Awards took place on Friday 3rd October and the Independent Radio Sector won 28 out of 42 Gold Awards on the night.  The sector swept the board with National Station going to Today and Local Station of the Year going to Clare FM.  The awards were presented on Friday evening at the annual industry event, hosted by Dermot Whelan, at Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.  

The Bauer Media Group picked up 12 Gold Awards, followed by Radio Kerry with 3, Midlands 103, Live 95FM and Dublins Q102 with 2 and Ocean FM, Galway Bay FM, WLR FM, FM104, Highland Radio, Clare FM and Radio Nova all taking home one Gold Award. Some interesting insights from the night included:

• Breakfast Programme of Year going to Dublins 98FM for the 'Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan, a gong picked up by them in 2023,
• Specialist Music Broadcaster of Year was won by JJ O'Shea from Radio Kerry who won a Silver in 2024 and a Bronze in 2023 in this category, 
• Irish Music Programme of the Year going to Radio Nova's Kieran McGuinness, his third year in a row to take home Gold from the awards having won Gold for Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year in 2023 and 2024,
• Local Station of the Year going to Clare FM, a title they won back in 2023,
• On-Air Competition of the Year going to FM104 for the Quid Games with Graham and Nathan, a Gold was picked up by them for the Quid Games in the Digital and Social Innovation Category in 2024,
• Gift Grub on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show have done two in a row, taking the Gold Award for Entertainment Inserts, having won in it in 2024,
• The Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year was won by Yullia Riabova from Radio Kerry, her colleague David Nelligan won the award in 2023,. 
• Off the Ball have done three in a row, winning Sports Programme of the Year Full Service having won it in 2023 and 2024,
• Newstalk claimed the Gold for Sports Broadcaster of the Year with Eoin Sheahan winning the award, following in his colleagues footsteps, Nathan Murphy in 2024 and Joe Molloy in 2023.

Chair of the IMRO Radio Awards committee, Chris Doyle said “ Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and shortlisted nominees. Your work represents the very best of Irish radio; creative, compelling, and deeply connected with audiences.  The standard across the board has been exceptional, and it’s a true privilege to celebrate the talent, passion, and dedication that make our industry so vibrant. Radio continues to thrive, innovate, and inspire, and tonight we honour not just the achievements, but excellence that defines our sector. It’s a proud moment to stand alongside such outstanding colleagues and celebrate together.”

This year’s ceremony saw the largest number of entries in over ten years. The Awards continue to showcase the strength and creativity of radio across the island of Ireland, highlighting its vital role in informing, entertaining, and connecting listeners.

The evening also paid tribute to the 2025 Hall of Fame inductees – John Bowman (RTÉ), Fr. Brian D’Arcy (BBC Radio Ulster), and Scott Williams (ONIC) – each honoured for their outstanding contribution and lifelong dedication to Irish broadcasting. This year’s Outstanding Achievement was awards to RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline at 40.

Eleanor McEvoy, Chair of the main sponsors IMRO said “At its heart, radio has always been local. It’s rooted in community - it’s rooted  in the accents, the humour, the news, and the songs that mean something to the people who tune in every day.  When a station reflects its listeners, when it champions the artists and songwriters who live among them, something magic happens. People hear themselves in it. They feel seen, and they feel connected. That connection matters. Because if everything starts to sound the same, if all we hear, wherever we travel, are the same playlists, the same stories -  then society loses something vital. We lose the colour, the richness, the individuality that makes every city, every town, and every county, unique. As a songwriter, I know how important that first play on a local station can be. It’s not just airplay -  it’s belief,  and it’s validation. There’s nothing that can give you that endorsement in the way that Radio can, and it’s always been utterly vital - in helping artists find their voice, and in helping audiences find their soundtrack to their lives”

Speaking at the event, Coimisiún Na Mean Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly said “Coimisiún na Meán is delighted to be sponsoring this year’s IMRO radio awards. I would like to congratulate all involved in tonight’s success. It’s been busy. We have, since 2023, re-licensed 24 commercial radio broadcasters. Sound & Vision continues to support the sector with €1.5million going to radio stations and €1.6 million to independent radio producers in 2024. Separately, our currently open News Reporting Scheme includes €3 million ringfenced for commercial radio by Minister Patrick O'Donovan.

The development of our new Broadcasting Services Strategy will involve extensive research and consultation activities, including an environmental and economic analysis of the current and future Irish broadcasting landscape, and audience research to better understand evolving needs and expectations. We look forward to engaging with radio stations to hear yours views on how radio can continue to play a vital role in serving Irish audiences.”

For more details and a full breakdown of the awards go to : https://www.imroradioawards.ie/winners-2025/