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  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Bonus: 5 key tips for beginner podcasters

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Bonus: 5 key tips for beginner podcasters

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    Starting a podcast can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it’s completely doable. To wrap up my beginner’s guide to podcasting in 2025, here are five essential tips to help you launch and grow your podcast successfully, pretty much summing up the past five posts.

    Given my main focus is audio, the series and these tips have been written with audio podcasts in mind but can be just as easily applied to video podcasts.

    1. Start with a clear concept

    Your podcast needs a strong foundation and the key to that is in having a clear concept. A clear topic and format make it easier to stay consistent and attract listeners. For Ken On Food, my subject matter is the Irish food scene, and for the Food In 5 Minutes series in particular, it’s about delivering five food stories in five minutes or less-ish. Concept, format.

    With almost 170 weekly episodes in the bag, The Football Manager Football Show was a podcast dedicated entirely to the video game Football Manager.

    If you’re considering starting a health and wellness podcast, why not ‘niche down’ and focus on a topic like mental health tips for busy professionals. It gives you, and your listeners, clarity and helps you stand out and target the right audience.

    2. Invest in good audio quality

    Listeners will forgive a lot, but bad audio isn’t one of them. You don’t need a professional studio, but a decent microphone and a quiet space make a huge difference – take it from a broadcast engineer with over 20 years of experience in this space.

    COVID was a grand for Zoom calls and lower quality audio when everything had to be done remotely, but that had a limited shelf-life too. If you’ve got the budget for hardware and software, invest well and invest wisely.

    If budget is lacking, pick your recording space wisely. You’d be surprised the difference in audio you can capture if your space has a carpeted floor or a wooden floor, lower ceilings or higher ceilings, if you’re indoors or outdoors, whether your microphone is near or far away.

    Put yourself in the listeners shoes – would you listen to your recording? Your content may be amazing, but poor quality audio can be an immediate turn-off, not just for one episode, but your entire podcast.

    3. Plan Before You Record

    Even if your podcast is casual, a little preparation prevents rambling and helps keep your episodes engaging. I’ve written plenty about this in the past, including why I think your podcast needs a running order.

    Do yourself a favour before you hit record and draft an outline of your episode, even in bullet point format. You wouldn’t jump in the car to get from Wexford to Donegal and simply hope you reach your far-flung destination (it’s about a four hour drive too, by the way). You’ll have looked at a route, followed sign posts or a map of some description, taking you from door to door.

    After a while, you’ll be doing it from memory. The same applies to podcasting. Make a plan, draft your bullet points, keep your questions in mind to guide conversations and go from there.

    4. Be Consistent with Your Release Schedule

    This is the big one and can result in the life or death of a podcast. Building an audience takes time, and consistency is key in this case. Whether it’s weekly, biweekly, or monthly, stick to a schedule so listeners know when to expect new episodes.

    To help with this when you’re getting ready to launch your podcast, it can really help to have a few episodes ‘in the bag’ so that you’re already ahead of yourself for your release schedule.

    5. Promote Your Podcast Effectively

    The downside to all this wonderful podcast work is that recording is only half the job—getting people to listen is just as important. Where you can, leverage social media, collaborations, and word of mouth to grow your audience.

    Tools like Headliner are great for sharing short audio clips to social platforms, or if you’re camera savvy, something like Opus can be a great help in preparing short video clips for socials.

    What about you – any tips you’d like to suggest? Sound off in the comments below.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 5: Publishing and Promoting Your Podcast

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 5: Publishing and Promoting Your Podcast

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    1. Choose a Podcast Hosting Platform

    A podcast host stores your audio files and generates an RSS feed so directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify can access them.

    • Free options: Anchor, Podbean (limited storage)
    • Paid options: Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor
    • Consider features like analytics, website integration, and monetization

    2. Submit Your Podcast to Directories

    Once your host provides an RSS feed, submit it to major platforms:

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • Amazon Music
    • Pocket Casts, Overcast, and others

    Each platform has a submission process, but most approve new shows within a few days.

    3. Create Eye-Catching Cover Art

    Your podcast cover is the first thing potential listeners see.

    • Use simple, bold design that stands out at small sizes.
    • Include your podcast name and keep fonts easy to read.
    • Use Canva or Adobe Express to create artwork if you don’t have design skills.

    4. Write a Compelling Podcast Description

    Your description should tell listeners why they should tune in.

    • Clearly explain what your podcast is about.
    • Keep it brief but engaging.
    • Use keywords to help people find your show in searches.

    5. Promote Your Podcast

    Getting your podcast published is just the beginning—you need to attract listeners.

    • Announce on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
    • Create short audio clips to share as teasers.
    • Ask friends and family to listen and leave reviews.
    • Join online communities related to your podcast topic and engage.
    • Consider guest appearances on other podcasts for exposure.

    6. Keep Going

    Growth takes time. Stay consistent and keep improving.

    • Release episodes on a regular schedule.
    • Listen to feedback and refine your format.
    • Keep promoting even after launch—momentum builds over time.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 4: Recording and editing your first podcast episode

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 4: Recording and editing your first podcast episode

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    1. Prepare Before You Record

    Good preparation saves time and helps your episode sound polished.

    • Write a loose script or outline to keep you on track.
    • Rehearse key points so you sound natural.
    • Test your mic levels and adjust gain to avoid distortion.
    • Eliminate background noise by choosing a quiet space.

    2. Start Recording

    Keep these tips in mind to get the best quality audio:

    • Speak clearly and at a steady pace.
    • Pause between thoughts to make editing easier.
    • Record a short test clip and listen back before starting the full episode.
    • If you make a mistake, pause and restart the sentence instead of stopping the recording.

    3. Edit for Clarity and Flow

    Editing refines your episode and removes distractions.

    • Trim silences, mistakes, and filler words (like “um” and “uh”).
    • Adjust volume levels to ensure consistency.
    • Add intro and outro music if desired.
    • Use noise reduction tools to clean up audio.

    4. Choose the Right Editing Software

    Depending on your skill level, different tools can help:

    • Free: Audacity (PC/Mac), GarageBand (Mac)
    • Paid: Adobe Audition, Reaper, Hindenburg Journalist

    Learn basic editing techniques, but don’t overcomplicate it—clear, clean audio is the goal.

    5. Export Your Episode

    Save your file in the right format:

    • MP3 format (128-192 kbps for spoken word podcasts)
    • Normalize volume levels to avoid sudden jumps in loudness.
    • Name files clearly (e.g., “Episode-01-Intro.mp3”) for easy organization.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 3: Getting the right podcast equipment and software

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 3: Getting the right podcast equipment and software

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    You don’t need a professional studio to start a podcast, but good equipment and software make a big difference in sound quality. Here’s what you need to get started without overspending.

    1. Choose a Microphone

    Sound quality matters. Avoid using built-in laptop or phone mics. Here are good options at different budgets:

    • Budget: Samson Q2U or Audio-Technica ATR2100x (USB/XLR options)
    • Mid-range: Rode PodMic or Shure MV7
    • High-end: Shure SM7B (requires an audio interface)

    USB mics are plug-and-play, while XLR mics offer more control but require extra equipment.

    2. Get Headphones

    Use closed-back headphones to monitor audio while recording and editing.

    • Affordable: Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
    • Mid-range: Sony MDR-7506
    • Premium: Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO

    Avoid recording without headphones to prevent audio bleed.

    3. Pick a Recording Software

    Your choice depends on your setup and budget. Here are solid options:

    • Free: Audacity (PC/Mac), GarageBand (Mac)
    • Paid: Adobe Audition, Logic Pro X, Reaper
    • Online: Riverside.fm, Zencastr (great for remote interviews)

    Test different software to see what feels most comfortable.

    4. Consider an Audio Interface (If Using an XLR Mic)

    An interface powers XLR microphones and improves sound quality.

    • Budget: Focusrite Scarlett Solo
    • Mid-range: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
    • High-end: RME Babyface Pro FS

    If you’re using a USB mic, you don’t need this.

    5. Improve Your Recording Space

    A good recording environment matters as much as your mic.

    • Record in a quiet room with minimal echo.
    • Use soft furnishings like carpets and curtains to absorb sound.
    • Consider acoustic foam or DIY soundproofing for better quality.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 2: Planning your podcast episodes

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 2: Planning your podcast episodes

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    Now that you have a solid podcast idea, it’s time to plan your episodes. A little preparation goes a long way in making your show engaging and easy to follow. Here’s how to get started.

    1. Choose Your Format

    Not all podcasts follow the same structure. Pick a format that suits your topic and personality.

    • Solo: You run the show alone, sharing insights or telling stories.
    • Co-hosted: A dynamic conversation between you and another host.
    • Interview-based: You bring in guests to share their expertise.
    • Narrative: A well-researched, storytelling approach.

    Think about what works best for your content and what you’ll enjoy creating.

    2. Structure Your Episodes

    A clear structure keeps your episodes engaging and easy to follow.

    • Intro: Briefly introduce yourself and the episode topic.
    • Main content: Present your key points, interview, or discussion.
    • Breaks: Use short transitions or music to create a natural flow.
    • Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways and encourage engagement.

    A consistent format helps listeners know what to expect.

    3. Decide on Episode Length

    There’s no perfect length, but here are common ranges:

    • Short-form (10–20 mins): Great for quick insights or bite-sized content.
    • Mid-length (30–45 mins): Ideal for in-depth discussions without overwhelming listeners.
    • Long-form (60+ mins): Works well for deep-dive interviews or storytelling.

    Pick a length that fits your content and audience’s listening habits.

    4. Plan Your First Season

    Instead of winging it, create a rough plan for your first batch of episodes.

    • Brainstorm 10–15 episode topics.
    • Arrange them in a logical order.
    • Outline key points for each episode.

    Having a plan reduces stress and keeps your content consistent.

    5. Prepare for Recording

    Before you hit record, make sure you’re ready.

    • Write a loose script or bullet points to stay on track.
    • Test your mic and recording setup.
    • Do a quick practice run to build confidence.

    A little prep makes recording smoother and more professional.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 1: Choosing your niche, topic or focus

    How to start a podcast in 2025 Part 1: Choosing your niche, topic or focus

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

    If you’re reading this post, I’m hoping you’re the kind of person ready to start their journey into the world of podcasting – making the transition from being a podcast listener to a podcast creator, host or producer.

    Over the next five post, you’ll learn about sourcing and picking equipment you can use for podcasting, promoting your podcast, planning episodes, recording your episodes and more, but for the first part in the series I’m going to look at what happens at the start – choosing your niche, topic or focus.

    You may have this locked down already and if so, you’re ahead of the curve. Starting a podcast begins with a strong idea, and ideally its one that excites you and will keep you motivated while you work on producing content and attracting an audience. Choosing the right topic or focus for your podcast from the start can be the difference maker between a podcast the thrives and succeeds and one that doesn’t.

    With all that said, let’s dive in…

    1. Choose a topic that keeps you motivated

    If you’re a regular podcast listener or radio listener, you’ll know that some of the best shows come from presenters who are passionate about their chosen subject – books, music, film, theatre, food, working from home, starting a blog, cycling – whatever the topic is, you can hear the grá they hold for it in their voice.

    That passion, that curiosity, is what keeps them motivated to continue producing content.

    Much like starting a blog, or writing a paper, your podcast should be about something you enjoy talking about – not just for one episode, but for many.

    As you’ll see in the coming posts about planning podcast episodes, having the passion for and knowledge of a topic will be a huge driver for you personally given the commitment required for regular podcasting. If you were to do a weekly episode for a year, would you get tired talking about the subject matter? Two years? Three?

    Maybe the idea you’ve got bubbling away lends itself to something more concise. Have you been thinking about a shorter-form podcast, with a handful of episodes, all nicely self-contained? Even so, have you got enough material in the bag (or in your head) when it comes to creating the content for it?

    Think about subject you already discuss or have a shared interest in with friends and family, or topics that you naturally research in your free time. If you love learning about something, chances are you’ll enjoy creating content around it as well.

    Your podcast should be about something you enjoy talking about—not just for one episode but for many. Passion is key because podcasting requires commitment. If you pick a topic just because it seems popular, you might lose interest quickly. Think about subjects you already discuss often with friends or topics you naturally research in your free time. If you love learning about something, chances are you’ll enjoy creating content around it.

    2. Topic chosen? Refine it

    One of the big mistakes you can make in choosing a topic is making it too broad.

    Let’s say I want to start a podcast called Any Given Food (an old food blog of mine) and my plan is to discuss literally everything about food. Think cooking, shopping, farming and agriculture, gardening, going gluten-free, vegan diets, food while travelling, baby food, food history, food science, if it’s about food, I’m going to cover it.

    Doesn’t that seem too broad to you? Do you think I would struggle to attract a loyal audience? I know I would as the podcast lacks focus. Yes, the avenues for content seem endless, but to what end?

    If I was to pick food as my topic, my next step would be to ‘niche down’ (a very American term) or to have a clearer focus for my podcast. So food is the overarching theme, but I want to explore food history instead. Now I’m starting to shape the idea for my series. Maybe I focus on Ireland’s food history, or maybe now I’ve gone too narrow.

    Instead, my first few episodes are going to look like this

    • The accidental inventions that changed our plates
    • How the spice trade shaped the modern world
    • The surprising history of fast food
    • Bread: the staple that built civilizations

    I get to talk about food, I dive a little deeper into the history of food on a global scale, and look at how it can be targeted to the audience I have in mind.

    Having a specific focus will help listeners know exactly what to expect and increases the chances that they’re going to subscribe to or follow your podcast. Instead of ‘The E-Commerce Podcast’, how about ‘How To Grow A Small E-Commerce Store’ where instead of focusing on all things e-commerce, you’re focus is shifted strictly to the setting up, running and growing of a small store. You’ve got niche appeal, you’ve narrowed down your audience, and have a path to prescribed content.

    For whatever overarching topic you have in mind, how could you refine it to make it work more in your favour? Does it need refining in the first place?

    3. Identify your audience and what they want

    Now that you’ve got your niche, topic or focus set, the next thing to do is figure out your audience.

    Does the world really need another podcast on your chosen topic? Have you got anything new or fresh to bring to the party? Do you even know who your podcast is aimed at or what kind of listener you’re trying to attract?

    At the end of the day, your podcast isn’t just for you, it’s for your listeners. It’s your job to impart the information, inform and entertain. Defining your audience early on will help you shape content that resonates with them.

    Using The Football Manager Football Show as an example, we knew two things

    • The podcast would be about a video game, Football Manager, with a smattering of football talk (hence the double use of ‘football’ in the title)
    • The intended audience was players of the game, who typically play at least a few hours a week, and know enough about the game to know what we’re talking about without having to explain ourselves

    The content resonated will with listeners, numbers grew nicely from month one through year three before knocking things on the head after 12 seasons.

    Ask yourself this – who would benefit most from your podcast?

    What problems do those people have that you can help solve? The more specific you can get, the easier it will be to both create the content for your podcast and to attract and retain listeners. A niche audience is often more engaged than a broad, general one.

    If you can’t talk to your intended audience before you release, then your first step is to research existing podcasts in your space. Read up on reviews of similar shows, see what listeners love, hate, or wish was done differently. See if you can spot a gap. Maybe listeners want more actionable advice, or deeper interviews or conversations on a subject. Or maybe they don’t have an hour to spend listening your your well prepped show, but a 15-30 minute duration is more suited because your audience tends to listen in the car on the way to work, or coming off a workout in the gym, or out walking the dog.

    Using money as an example, if you’re thinking in starting a podcast about personal finance, you might look at targeting young professionals who struggle with budgeting, rather than trying to appeal to everyone interested in money. How will you make that connection?

    OK, that’s done, now what?

    Before you commit to a podcast idea, run a few simple tests to see if it has potential.

    One way is to create a short description of your podcast in one or two sentences. If you can’t explain it clearly, it might be too vague or complex. Try sharing your idea with a friend. Do they immediately understand what your podcast is about, or do they have questions? If they struggle to grasp it, you may need to refine your concept.

    Another great exercise is to record a five-minute test episode.

    Talk about your topic as if you were recording a real show. Go in cold, use the voice recording or voice notes feature on your phone, or sit down in front of a microphone and just let her rip. This will help you determine if you enjoy discussing it and if the content flows naturally. If it feels forced or you run out of things to say quickly, it might not be the right fit.

    For my first radio show, I had everything planned for a 60 minute recording. Or at least I thought I did. Seven minutes into the process, I was dead, and I was working with three others at the time. We’d blown all of our content and ideas in such a fast-paced start that the show may as well have been a ten minute insert instead of an hour-long feature.

    Testing your idea in this way can save you time and effort down the road. Another way to test your motivation is to brainstorm at least 20 episode ideas within your chosen niche. If you struggle to come up with enough topics, you might run out of things to say too soon.

    A sustainable podcast needs depth. For example, if you’re considering a podcast about productivity, could you cover morning routines, time management strategies, overcoming procrastination, and digital tools for efficiency? If so, you’re on the right track.

    Choosing the right podcast idea is the foundation of your success. Find a topic that excites you, refine it, identify an audience that needs it and test your idea before you fully commit. With the right start, you’ll set yourself up for a podcast that’s engaging, sustainable, and rewarding.

    This post is part of a series titled How to start a podcast in 2025. If you’ve missed any of the posts, check back here.

  • Starting a podcast in 2025? Of course you are, and here’s how you can do it

    Starting a podcast in 2025? Of course you are, and here’s how you can do it

    For 2024, I brought the Ken On Food podcast back to life with a short series called Food In 5 Minutes. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

    After a one-year run in that particular format, it’s now parked, with a view to returning later this year in a new seasonal-style approach with longer episodes over a shorter run. I also plan on returning to work on a number of previous podcast projects, including the UR Podcast series produced with Urban Gym. 2025 seems like a good year to tackle all things podcasting.

    If starting a podcast in 2025 has been on your agenda, then you’re in luck.

    Over the course of the next five weeks, with the support of one post a week, I’m going to guide you through how you can research, prepare, record and launch your first podcast. This short course doesn’t cost you anything, and doesn’t require you to sign up for any newsletters or ‘limited time’ offers. Check back on the blog each Friday for the month of January and you’ll find a new post ready and waiting to guide you on your next step of the journey.

    What happens after that is up to you.

    What to expect

    This new, short series of posts, is aimed at podcast listeners, those with an idea bubbling below the surface for something they would like to try, but are struggling to put all the pieces together. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

    Divided into five segments (you can click the links below to find the posts now), you’ll learn about

    1. Choosing your niche, topic or focus
    2. Planning your podcast episodes
    3. Getting the right podcast equipment and software
    4. Recording and editing your first podcast episode
    5. Publishing and promoting your podcast

    The list isn’t exhaustive by any means but for newcomers to the space, you’ll find plenty of useful information, tips, tricks and suggestions that you can use to make your journey from podcast hopeful to podcaster a good one.

    If you’ve got any questions along the way, leave a comment on any of the posts.

    And happy new year!

    Update: As an added bonus, to round out the series, here are five tips for beginners on the podcasting front, just a little something to keep in mind if you’re going to be investing your time and resources in the process.

  • IMRO Radio Awards 2024: And the winners are…

    IMRO Radio Awards 2024: And the winners are…

    Just like that, the IMRO Radio Awards 2024 are done and dusted.

    Another packed night at Kilkenny’s Lyrath Estate Hotel in the bag, another 40-odd happy winners, a return to hosting duties for Dermot Whelan who elected to trade a night of repairing broken shakras for hanging out with maniacs and masochists. His words, though I might be paraphrasing slightly.

    With the best of Irish radio celebrated, from newcomers to Hall of Fame inductees, the annual pilgrimage to the five-star surrounds of Lyrath serves as much about recognising the talent, quality and depth of content and personnel in the commercial radio sector in Ireland as it does a much-needed knees up for an industry often stretched paper-thin.

    While you can find the original list of 2024 nominees here, the winners are listed in full below.

    A: Music Programming Awards

    • A1: General Music Programme: Ray Foley on Today FM (Today FM)
    • A2: Specialist Music Programme: The Tom Dunne Show (Newstalk)
    • A3: Breakfast Programme: Morning Glory with PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe (Radio Nova)
    • A4: Music Special / Music Event: Chuck Berry, In A Field, In Ballisodare
    • A5: IMRO Irish Music Programme or Initiative: All Irish with Claire Beck (Today FM)

    B: News & Sports Programming Awards

    • B1: News Story / News Event: Dublin Riots (Newstalk)
    • B2: News Programme – Full Service: Newstalk’s Dublin Riots Special
    • B3: News Programme – Local/Regional: FYI Galway – Blockades, Bottles and Birthdays (Galway Bay FM)
    • B4: Current Affairs Programme – Full Service: The Hard Shoulder (Newstalk)
    • B5: Current Affairs Programme – Local/Regional: The Michael Reade Show (LMFM)
    • B6: Sports Story: Doubters to Believers – Jurgen, Liverpool and The Irish Reds
    • B7: Sports Programme – Full Service: Off The Ball (Newstalk)
    • B8: Sports Programme – Local/Regional: Radio Kerry Weekend Sport (Radio Kerry)

    C: Speech Programming Awards

    • C1: Documentary: Leesa: Last One On The Train (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • C2: Music, Arts & Culture Documentary: Are You Blind Or What? (Midlands 103)
    • C3: Short Feature: Henry McKean Reports (Newstalk)
    • C4: Magazine Programme: Saturday with John Toal – Christmas at John’s (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • C5: Drama: Drama on One – Helen Wheels by Fionn Foley (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • C6: Specialist Speech Programme: Feather and Flock (Lyric Feature) (RTÉ Lyric FM)
    • C7: Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge: Cosán na mBan (RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta)
    • C8: Interactive Speech Programme: Liveline (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • C9: Sustainability: Waterford In Action – A Climate Discussion (WLR FM)

    D: General Awards

    • D1: Community/Social Action: Cork’s 96FM Giving For Living Radiothon (Cork’s 96FM)
    • D2: On-air Competition/Promotion: The Grand Tour (iRadio)
    • D3: Station Imaging: Today FM
    • D4: Entertainment Insert: Gift Grub on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (Today FM)
    • D5: Digital & Social Innovation: FM104’s Quid Games with Graham and Nathan (FM104)
    • D6: Radio Station Podcast of the Year: Runaway Joe (RTÉ Radio 1)

    E: People Awards

    • E1: Music & Entertainment Presenter of the Year: KC (Cork’s Red FM)
    • E2: Radio DJ of the Year: Simon Murdoch (Cork’s 96FM)
    • E3: Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year: Kieran McGuinness (Radio Nova)
    • E4: News Broadcaster of the Year: Chris Buckler (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • E5: News Reporter of the Year: Barry Lenihan (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • E6: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service: Nathan Murphy (Newstalk)
    • E7: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Local/Regional: Austin O’Callaghan (Ocean FM)
    • E8: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service: William Crawley (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • E9: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Local/Regional: Neil Prendeville (Cork’s Red FM)
    • E10: The Gay Byrne Award – Newcomer of the Year: Zeinab Elguzouli (FM104)

    F: Station of the Year Awards

    • F1: Radio Moment of the Year: Who Cares For The Carers? (Newstalk)
    • F2: Local Station of the Year: WLR FM
    • F3: Music Station of the Year: Cork’s RedFM
    • F4: National Station of the Year: Newstalk

    The first award of the night was the Outstanding Achievement Award, that one going to Beat for their Digital Media Literacy Tour for secondary schools. The initiative saw 41 bilingual digital media literacy information sessions, on site, at 20 different secondary schools across the South East.

    The four inductees to the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame also collected their awards – those being Eddie Caffrey (LMFM), Ray D’Arcy (RTÉ), Carol Dooley (Sunshine 106.8 / KCLR), Hugo Duncan (BBC Radio Ulster / BBC Radio Foyle).

    For more on the awards, and audio from the winners, see imroradioawards.ie.

  • In Kilkenny or Carlow? TY Media Week is coming to KCLR this month

    In Kilkenny or Carlow? TY Media Week is coming to KCLR this month

    If you’re a transition year student, or you have transition year students, in Kilkenny or Carlow then there’s a radio opportunity available at KCLR later this month.

    The annual TY Media Week is back, taking place this year from 21-25 October at the studios in KCLR. The Learning Waves initiative is picked up by radio stations all around the country across seasonal work experience windows for second-level schools.

    With limited spaces available, it’s a chance to gain insights to the workings of and hands-on experience in a radio station environment and, in our case, we cover everything from news and sport to music, programming, studio production work, engineering setups and more.

    Students will have a chance to prepare and record their own shows, conduct interviews, and learn about the processes involved in preparing and delivering news bulletins and shows, sport shows and live commentaries, outside broadcasts, music selection, scheduling and everything else we can fit into a week. Those taking part will work alongside the station editor, journalists, engineers, presenters and producers to get a real flavour of the inner workings of life in radio.

    Having already held one TY Media Week in February this year – more details on which you can find here – applications are open for our October week right now.

    Submissions, from students attending second-level schools in Kilkenny or Carlow, can be made here at kclr96fm.com.

    Watch: TY Media Week testimonials (spring 2024)

  • IMRO Radio Awards 2024: And the nominees are…

    IMRO Radio Awards 2024: And the nominees are…

    The shortlists for the 2024 IMRO Radio Awards have been released, the awards as always helping to celebrate the very best of what’s happening in the Irish radio world.

    A: Music Programming Awards

    A1: General Music Programme

    • Dave Moore on Today FM (Today FM)
    • Gareth O’Callaghan (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • On the Move with Kayte O’Malley (Galway Bay FM)
    • Ray Foley on Today FM (Today FM)
    • The Nova Lunchbreak with Dee Woods (Radio Nova)

    A2: Specialist Music Programme

    • Block Rockin Beats with Dec Pierce (Today FM)
    • Europop – The Neil Hannon Show (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • FM104’s Freaks with Al Gibbs (FM104)
    • In the Mix with Marty (SPIN 1038)
    • The Tom Dunne Show (Newstalk)

    A3: Breakfast Programme

    • Colm and Lucy in the Morning (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • iRadio in the Morning with Cooper and Oonagh (iRadio)
    • Morning Glory with PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe (Radio Nova)
    • RedFM Breakfast with KC (Cork’s RedFM)
    • The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (Today FM)

    A4: Music Special / Music Event

    • 25 Years is a Long Way Baby (Midlands 103)
    • Chuck Berry, in a Field, in Ballisodare (Ocean FM)
    • Classical Connections – Seamus Heaney Special (BBC Radio Ulster / Radio Foyle)
    • Today FM Celebrating Sinéad O’Connor (Today FM)
    • Today FM’s Big Busk for Focus Ireland (Today FM)

    A5: IMRO Irish Music Programme or Initiative

    • 21 Beats on Beat 102-103 (Beat 102-103)
    • All Irish with Claire Beck (Today FM)
    • iLove Irish (iRadio)
    • Mise Sessions (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Plugged In Lyra Special (Galway Bay FM)

    B: News & Sports Programming Awards

    B1: News Story / News Event

    • A Tornado in Leitrim (Ocean FM)
    • Dublin Riots (Newstalk)
    • Emergency Department Death Trap – John Cooke RTÉ Radio 1 (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Gone with the Wind (Shannonside Northern Sound)
    • The Arrest of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (BBC Radio Ulster)

    B2: News Programme – Full Service

    • After the Flood – RTÉ Radio News At One (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Breakfast Briefing (Newstalk)
    • Dublin Riots – Eye Witness Accounts and Reaction – Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Newstalk’s Dublin Riots Special (Newstalk)
    • The Arrest of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (BBC Radio Ulster)

    B3: News Programme – Local/Regional

    • Cork’s 96FM News Extended Bulletin (Cork’s 96FM)
    • FYI Galway – Blockades, Bottles and Birthdays (Galway Bay FM0
    • Mass Day of Strike Action (BBC Radio Foyle)
    • Q102 Lunchtime News (Dublin’s Q102)
    • Waterford @ 6 – 30 Year Search for Imelda Keenan (WLR FM)

    B4: Current Affairs Programme – Full Service

    • Newstalk Breakfast (Newstalk)
    • The Hard Shoulder (Newstalk)
    • The Last Word with Matt Cooper (Today FM)
    • The Late Debate -The Dublin Riots (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • The Pat Kenny Show (Newstalk)

    B5: Current Affairs Programme – Local/Regional

    • Midlands Today (Midlands 103)
    • North West Today (Ocean FM)
    • The Michael Reade Show (LMFM)
    • The Nine ’til Noon Show with Greg Hughes (Highland Radio)
    • Tipp Today (Tipp FM)

    B6: Sports Story

    • Doubters to Believers – Jurgen, Liverpool and the Irish Reds (Dublin’s Q102)
    • Monaghan Day (Shannonside Northern Sound)
    • Ón Taobhlíne OB Live from GAA World Games in Derry (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • The Rise and Fall of Vera Pauw (Newstalk)
    • When Rio Came to Rovers (Ocean FM)

    B7: Sports Programme – Full Service

    • Chapters of Magnificence (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Game On (RTÉ 2FM)
    • Off The Ball (Newstalk)

    B8: Sports Programme – Local/Regional

    • Radio Kerry Weekend Sport (Radio Kerry)
    • The Final Whistle – How the West Was Won (Ocean FM)
    • The Men of ’23 (Galway Bay FM)
    • The Score with Trevor Welch (Cork’s 96FM)
    • Up for the Match (C103 Cork)

    C: Speech Programming Awards

    C1: Documentary

    • 35 Years of GCN (Newstalk)
    • Concrete Jungle (Clare FM)
    • Documentary on One: Fear and Mistrust (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Leesa: Last One on the Train (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Queen of Nightclubs (Lyric Feature) (RTÉ Lyric FM)

    C2: Music, Arts & Culture Documentary

    • Are You Blind or What? (Midlands 103)
    • Building a Ballet (The Lyric Feature) (RTÉ Lyric FM)
    • Give Kate Bush Back to the Irish (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Louder Than Bombs – The Smiths in Ireland, Nov 84 (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Magic on a Winter’s Night (Lyric Feature) (RTÉ Lyric FM)
    • The Trashcan Sinatras (Radio Nova)

    C3: Short Feature

    • Henry McKean Reports (Newstalk)
    • Poetry People Reports Dave MacArdle (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • The Greatest Gender Benders of Music (Radio Nova)
    • The Story Behind The Song (Clare FM)
    • Where Life Sounds Greener (RTÉ Lyric FM)

    C4: Magazine Programme

    • Atlantic Tales (Clare FM)
    • Moncrieff (Newstalk)
    • Saturday View (Midlands 103)
    • Saturday with John Toal – Christmas at John’s (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • TY Takeover (Galway Bay FM)

    C5: Drama

    • Assume Nothing: The Handler – Six Months in Hell – Episode 2 (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Drama On One – Helen Wheels by Fionn Foley (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Miracle On McCurtain Street – Lorraine and Ross (Cork’s 96FM)
    • Sandwich (Newstalk)
    • Shinaid (RTÉ Radio, Drama on One)

    C6: Specialist Speech Programme

    • Alright, Pet? (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Feather and Flock (Lyric Feature) (RTÉ Lyric FM)
    • FM104’s Come In (FM104)
    • Futureproof (Newstalk)
    • The Home Show (Newstalk)

    C7: Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge

    • Cosán na mBan (RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta)
    • Hit 30 (SPIN 1038)
    • Ón Domhan Thíos (RTÉjr / RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta)
    • Splanc le Cuán Ó Flatharta (Newstalk)
    • The Magic of An Ríocht (Radio Kerry)

    C8: Interactive Speech Programme

    • Liveline (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Lunchtime Live (Newstalk)
    • Night Time Talk with Lauren O’Sullivan (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • One Giant Leap on The Neil Prendeville Show (Cork’s RedFM)
    • The Stephen Nolan Show (BBC Radio Ulster)

    C9: Sustainability

    • Ecolution (RTÉjr Radio)
    • Gardeners’ Corner with David Maxwell (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Public Transport in 90 Minutes (98FM)
    • Waterford in Action – A Climate Discussion (WLR FM)
    • We Only Want The Earth (Lyric Feature series) (RTÉ Lyric FM)

    D: General Awards

    D1: Community/Social Action

    • 2FM – Stand Up Awareness Week (2FM)
    • 98FM’s Best of Dublin Awards (98FM)
    • Blue Monday (98FM)
    • Cork’s 96FM Giving for Living Radiothon (Cork’s 96FM)
    • Men’s Health Matters (WLR FM)

    D2: On-air Competition/Promotion

    • Back to the Future – Simon Harris Day (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • Dead Air (98FM)
    • FM104’s Quid Games with Graham and Nathan (FM104)
    • Gift Grub Turns 25 (Today FM)
    • The Grand Tour (iRadio)

    D3: Station Imaging

    • Cork’s 96FM
    • FM104
    • Radio Nova
    • SPIN 1038
    • Today FM

    D4: Entertainment Inserts

    • A Very Moore-y Christmas (Today FM)
    • Emma, Dave and Aisling’s Swaptember (SPIN 1038)
    • Gift Grub on The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (Today FM)
    • RedFM Breakfast with KC – The 10 Past 8 Bits (Cork’s RedFM)
    • This Is – Lorraine and Ross in the Morning (Cork’s 96FM)

    D5: Digital & Social Innovation

    • Beat’s Digital Media Literacy Tour (Beat 102-103)
    • Dave & Fionnuala’s Grand Tour (iRadio)
    • Emma, Dave & Aisling’s Swaptember – Dave’s Dream Day (SPIN 1038)
    • FM104’s Quid Games with Graham and Nathan (FM104)
    • Inner Drive (Newstalk)

    D6: Radio Station Podcast of the Year

    • Inside Ireland’s Rising Right (Newstalk)
    • Inside the Crime (Newstalk)
    • Let Me Explain with Sean Defoe (Newstalk)
    • Runaway Joe (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • The Real Carrie Jade (RTÉ Radio 1)

    E: People Awards

    E1: Music & Entertainment Presenter of the Year

    • Dave Duke (iRadio)
    • Emma Nolan (SPIN 1038)
    • Graham O’Toole (FM104)
    • Ian Dempsey (Today FM)
    • KC (Cork’s RedFM)

    E2: Radio DJ of the Year

    • Brian McEvoy (Cork’s 96FM)
    • Eve Blair (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Jess Spencer (SPIN 1038)
    • Louise Duffy (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Simon Murdoch (Cork’s 96FM)

    E3: Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year

    • Ann Marie Kelly (Midlands 103)
    • JJ O’Shea (Radio Kerry)
    • Kieran McGuinness (Radio Nova)
    • Ralph McLean (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Stephen McCauley (BBC Radio Ulster)

    E4: News Broadcaster of the Year

    • Alex Rowley (SPIN 1038)
    • Chris Buckler (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Declan Harvey (BBC Radio Ulster)
    • Fionnuala Corbett (iRadio)
    • Shane Beatty (Newstalk)

    E5: News Reporter of the Year

    • Barry Lenihan (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • Cian McCormack (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • David Nevin (Galway Bay FM)
    • Henry McKean (Newstalk)
    • Sheila Naughton (Newstalk)

    E6: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service

    • Aisling O’Reilly (Newstalk)
    • Eoin Sheahan (Newstalk)
    • John Duggan (Newstalk)
    • Nathan Murphy (Newstalk)

    E7: Sports Broadcaster of the Year – Local/Regional

    • Austin O’Callaghan (Ocean FM)
    • Derrick Lynch (Clare FM)
    • Donal Ryan (Ocean FM)
    • Eric White (BBC Radio Foyle)
    • Tim Moynihan (Radio Kerry)

    E8: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Full Service

    • Andrea Gilligan (Newstalk)
    • Ciara Kelly (Newstalk)
    • Pat Kenny (Newstalk)
    • Sean Moncrieff (Newstalk)
    • William Crawley (BBC Radio Ulster)

    E9: Speech Broadcaster of the Year – Local/Regional

    • Alan Morrissey (Clare FM)
    • Mark Patterson (BBC Radio Foyle)
    • Neil Prendeville (Cork’s RedFM)
    • Niall Delaney (Ocean FM)
    • Patricia Messinger (C103 Cork)

    E10: The Gay Byrne Award – Newcomer of the Year

    • Dan Dooner (Shannonside Northern Sound)
    • Gary Brennan (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • Luke Delaney (Dublin’s Q102)
    • Nicky Manley (Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio)
    • Zeinab Elguzouli (FM104)

    F: Station of the Year Awards

    F1: Radio Moment of the Year

    • Go Back to Your Country – Exposing Exploitation (LMFM)
    • Liveline – Live from the Stardust Verdict (RTÉ Radio 1)
    • The Portal’s Funeral (SPIN 1038)
    • Who Cares for the Carers? (Newstalk)
    • Why Me? (LMFM)

    F2: Local Station of the Year

    • Shortlisted entries will be revealed on the night

    F3: Music Station of the Year

    Shortlisted entries will be revealed on the night

    F4: National Station of the Year

    • Shortlisted entries will be revealed on the night

    This year’s awards are back in Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny on Friday 4 October. A full list of winners from the 2023 IMRO Radio Awards can be found here.