Radio Icons Enter IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame #IMRO24
Dublin, 25th September 2024 – Radio in Ireland isn’t just a source of entertainment; it’s part of our everyday lives, a familiar voice offering comfort and connection. The IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame is set to honour four broadcasters who have become synonymous with that special relationship. On Wednesday, September 25th, Eddie Caffrey, Ray D’Arcy, Carol Dooley, and Hugo Duncan will be inducted at a ceremony at the IMRO offices, celebrating their remarkable careers and their enduring impact on Irish radio. The overall IMRO Radio Awards event will be at the annual gala on October 4th at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny.
This year’s inductees are:
- Eddie Caffrey – LMFM
- Ray D’Arcy – RTÉ Radio 1
- Carol Dooley – Sunshine 106.8
- Hugo Duncan – BBC Northern Ireland
These four luminaries represent the heart and soul of radio in Ireland. Their voices have resonated across the airwaves for decades, entertaining, informing, and inspiring countless listeners. From independent local stations to national broadcasters, they have shaped the nation’s soundscape, leaving a legacy that will be cherished for generations to come.
The IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame recognises not only the exceptional careers of these broadcasters but also their ongoing passion and commitment to the industry. Each of these individuals continues to captivate audiences with their unique talents, proving that radio remains a vibrant and essential medium in the digital age.
Victor Finn, IMRO Chief Executive, headline sponsors of the Awards said ‘It is a tremendous honour for IMRO to sponsor the prestigious Radio Awards Hall of Fame once again. We are delighted to recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of Hugo Duncan, Carol Dooley, Ray D’Arcy and Eddie Caffrey. Their legacy within the industry is undeniable, and they now take their well-deserved place among Ireland’s most esteemed broadcasters.’
Speaking on behalf of Coimisiún Na Meán, Broadcasting and VOD Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly said “Coimisiún na Meán is delighted to congratulate this year’s inductees to the Hall of Fame and celebrate the significant contribution each has made to the radio sector. Radio continues to play a hugely valuable role in Irish life, not only entertaining listeners but acting as a trustworthy source of news and information for us all. Hall of Fame recipients are reflective of the talent at work across the industry and it’s wonderful to see today’s inductees recognised.”
This year’s inductees join a prestigious group of broadcasters enshrined in the Hall of Fame, further cementing their status as true radio legends. The IMRO Radio Awards is proud to celebrate their achievements and looks forward to their continued contributions to the ever-evolving world of Irish radio.
EDDIE CAFFREY – LMFM
Eddie Caffrey’s radio career began with the emergence of Pirate Radio in the late seventies where not only was he a polished presenter but also a self-taught radio engineer.
Over the next ten years, Eddie built studios and transmission systems for over 15 fledgling radio stations. He was the first voice heard on Radio Dundalk before he moved to Boyneside Radio in Drogheda from where he commenced presentation of the phenomenally successful Greenscene Show.
Unsurprisingly, in 1989 he was recruited by the newly licenced local service, LMFM, in a role combining both presenter and station engineer and since then has been an ever present on the LMFM weekday schedule as well as ensuring that the station is heard throughout every corner of the northeast.
Eddie recently turned 70 and can look back with pride on a twin-faceted radio career stretching over 46 years. Eddie’s contribution to radio in the Louth Meath area will never be surpassed or seen again – and as for retirement, he says he will review the situation in five years’ time!
RAY D’ARCY – RTÉ Radio 1
Ray did his first radio broadcast in 1979. He hit the national airwaves at the turn of the century and grew his midmorning show to become the biggest independent radio show in the country.
Ray has always used his platform to highlight social issues and fundraise for charities, becoming a mental health advocate and helping to raise millions for worthy causes.
Ray continues to be a significant presence on Irish radio.
CAROL DOOLEY – Sunshine 106.8
Carol began her radio career at twelve years old on a Kilkenny pirate station in 1978. Her unwavering dedication and boundless passion for radio have captivated Irish audiences as well as those in the UK, Europe, and the United States. Over her illustrious career, her passion for radio has engaged audiences in Ireland, the UK, Europe, and the US.
She returned to Ireland from the US in 2010 and launched Radio Nova as PD. In 2013, she moved to East Coast FM in the same role. The following year, she was recruited to join Sunshine 106.8 as part of the on-air team, a role she has held now for over a decade and consistently achieves high ratings. Her intrinsic understanding of how radio works and what audiences respond and react to is second to none.
Over the past four decades, Carol has made a lasting impact in Irish broadcasting.
HUGO DUNCAN – BBC Northern Ireland
In 2024, Hugo Duncan celebrates his 26th year of broadcasting his hugely popular daytime show on BBC Northern Ireland.
He plays the best music from old favourites to fresh new country stars, still making room for the odd classic from the 60’s or 70’s pop world. In 2024, he was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Northern Ireland Country Music Awards. “Uncle Hugo’s” iconic phases – Uncle Hugo Loves You and Have Your Tea with Hugo D – ring out around homes all over Ulster.
Hugo’s talents are not limited to radio. He is an Irish showband legend who still gigs all over the island of Ireland. He knows his listeners extraordinarily well! This is constantly reflected in his impressive audience figures and daily programme interactions with thousands of people through calls, texts and social media engagement.
Hugo volunteers his time every year for the BBC Children In Need charity campaign. His legendary annual ‘Hugo-thons’, the ‘Wee man from Strabane’, has raised tens of thousands for the charity. Each year, Hugo welcomes listeners and service users from adult care homes to the BBC to see the studio and how shows are made, even sending them home with their own mini-show recordings, helping to share his passion and joy of radio.
– ENDS –
#IMRO24
For updates and additional information, please visit https://www.imroradioawards.ie/
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For further information, please contact: MASONRY PR
Kathryn Mason | km@MASONRY.ie 087-2627977
Dee Ni Cheallaigh | dee@MASONRY.ie 086-2495323
IMRO Radio Awards Hall of Fame inductees to date:
Micheál O’Muircheartaigh – RTÉ Radio 1
Jimmy Magee – RTÉ Radio1
Des Whelan – WLR FM
Marian Finucane RIP – RTÉ Radio 1
Gay Byrne RIP – RTÉ Radio1
Larry Gogan RIP – RTÉ 2fm
Mario Rosenstock – Today FM
Gerry Ryan RIP – 2fm
Ronan O’Rahilly – Radio Caroline
Candy Devine – Downtown
Seán Bán Breathnach – RTÉ Raidio Na Gaeltachta
Joe Duffy – RTÉ Radio 1
Bill Goulding – RTÉ
Liam O’Shea – clare fm
Tony Fenton RIP – Today FM
Paul Claffey – Midwest Radio
Áine Lawlor – RTÉ Radio 1
Walter Love – BBC Radio Ulster
Gerry Anderson – BBC Radio Ulster
Pat Balfe – Communicorp
Des Cahill – RTÉ Radio 1
Henry Owens RIP – Red FM
Seamus McKee – BBC Radio Ulster
Eamon Buttle – South East Radio
Trevor Campbell – Downtown Radio
Ian Dempsey – Today FM
Dave Fanning – RTÉ 2fm
Linda McAuley – BBC Radio Ulster
Séamus Mac Géidigh RIP – RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta
Billy McCarthy RIP – WLR FM
Joe King – Broadcast Technical Services Limited
Pat Kenny – Newstalk
Margaret Nelson – FM104/Q102
Willie O’Reilly
Ian Wilson – RTÉ Radio 1 & 2fm
Sean Moncrieff – Newstalk
Ronan Collins – RTÉ Radio 1
Paul Byrne – Radio Kerry
Declan Meehan – East Coast FM
George Hamilton – RTÉ Lyric FM
Patricia Messinger – C103
Stephen Clements RIP – BBC Radio Ulster/Go Q Radio
Rachael English – RTÉ Radio 1
Keith Finnegan – Galway Bay FM
Albert Fitzgerald RIP – Midlands 103
John Bennett RIP – BBC Northern Ireland
Joe Finnegan – Shannonside/Northern Sound
Paddy Halpenny – Communicorp
Mary Wilson – RTÉ Radio 1
NOTES TO EDITORS:
IMRO Radio Awards Committee
The Radio Awards Committee comprises twelve members representing all sectors of licensed commercial and public radio on the island of Ireland – RTÉ, BBC NI, and the independent commercial radio sectors in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
IMRO
IMRO administers the performing right in copyright music on behalf of its members (songwriters, composers, and music publishers) and on behalf of members of the international overseas societies affiliated with it. IMRO’s core function is to collect and distribute royalties from the public performance of copyright works. With a global scope, we represent creators along the chain of creation. At IMRO, we are committed to creators. We stand up for music and the people who make it and perform it. A community for creators, we listen, advocate, educate, invest, and engage to shape a culture of musical worth. We help music creators to adapt to change and receive a full and fair return for their work. See www.imro.ie
Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán is Ireland’s agency for developing and regulating a thriving, diverse, creative, safe and trusted media landscape.
Its responsibilities are to:
- Oversee the funding of and support the development of the wider media sector in Ireland.
- Oversee the regulation of broadcasting and video-on-demand services.
- Develop and enforce the Irish regulatory regime for online safety
See www.cnam.ie
#IMRO24
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