RTÉ Radio 1 secures most awards at IMRO radio ceremony

Today FM, Shannonside Northern Sound and SPIN 1038 picked up station of the year awards at the IMRO Radio Awards 2026, with RTÉ Radio 1 securing the most awards on the night.

The event was hosted by Dermot Whelan at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Co Kilkenny.

Accolades in gold, silver and bronze were given out across 42 categories last night.

The Radio Awards Committee, comprising of 12 members representing all sectors of radio across the country, voted for the winners.

Today FM was crowned National Station of the year, with the station securing 11 awards in total.

Music Station of the Year went to Spin 1038 while Shannonside Northern Sound was victorious in the Local Station of the Year category.

SPIN 1038's Emma Nolan was also crowned Music and Entertainment Presenter of the Year.

RTÉ Radio 1 secured the most awards on the night, including seven gold, nine silver and eight bronze.

Justin McCarthy was named News Broadcaster of the Year, followed by BBC Radio Ulster’s Richard Morgan, who got silver, and RTÉ’s Sarah McInerney, who secured bronze.

RTÉ Radio 1’s Brian O'Connell was awarded News reporter of the Year followed by his Radio 1 colleague, Barry Lenihan.

2026's Radio Moment of the Year was Brenda Fricker on the Brendan O'Connor programme.

While the station’s Drivetime programme won Current Affairs Programme of the Year.

98FM’s Leanne Hanafin picked up Radio DJ of the Year.

Gold in the Sports Programme category was given to Newstalk's Off the Ball, Dublin's Q102’s Dublin Sport Today topping the Local/Regional category.

Newstalk’s John Duggan took gold in the Sports Broadcaster of the Year category.

Breakfast Show of the Year went to Midlands 103’s Breakfast at the Ploughing, while the General Music Programme award was given to Mícheál, Shane & Ella on iRadio.

Jamie Ryan of East Coast FM was crowned Newcomer of the Year.

The Documentary category was won by Clare FM’s The Hidden Disability.

RTÉ Lyric FM’s Marty Whelan, Michael Crawley of LMFM, Teena Gates of Bauer Media Ireland and Helen Ní Shé of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta were inducted into the IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame.

They received a rousing welcome at last night’s event.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta secured three gold awards at the event in the Drama, Craoltóireacht Le Gaeilge and Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year categories.

RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ 2FM both secured one gold, one silver and one bronze award each.