Radio News

The Ivy Sisters win the Aldi Christmas FM Song Contest

Mele Kalikimaka by Wexford based group The Ivy Sisters have been announced as the winners of The Aldi Christmas FM Song Contest for 2020. Now in its thirteenth year, the song contest, on Ireland’s Christmas radio station, attracts hundreds of entries each year – vying to be crowned the winner by Christmas FM’s extensive national and international audience. The Ivy Sisters are made up of three women living in Wexford Town, Aileen Donohoe, Jilly Cox and Sharon Clancy who formed in 2019. Due to the pandemic, they were forced to delay their plans to launch on the live scene so winning the song contest has been a great way to end the year for them...

Beat 102 103 rewards unsung heroes in November

Beat 102 103 has continued its Feel Good Friday Fairy promotion as Shonagh Lyons surprised some unsung heroes in the South East. This year Beat has honoured three Waterford unsung heroes, along with a teacher from Tipperary on four consecutive Fridays. Week 1 began with Ann Condron, the Ballybeg Mammy, from Waterford. Ann works in Tesco in Ballybeg and she was nominated by her co-worker, Orla, who says “There is one lady who has been a bit of a hero for us all and her name in Ann Condron.” Week 2 introduced listeners to Jane Donegan, a teacher from Tipperary. Jane was nominated by her best friend, Sarah, who says “she is the kindest, caring and most-loving person I know.” ...

Beat 102-103 introduce presenter to digital station

Beat 102-103 are introducing Waterford-based drag queen Joanna Ryde to their digital station, Noughty Beats. The service launched in 2018 as one of ten online-only channels on the Irish RadioPlayer app. Ryde will present a new two hour programme, Pride Beats, every Friday from 8pm. Gabrielle Cummins, CEO of Beat 102-103, said: “Digital listening for Beat 102-103 and its digital only station Noughty Beats has exploded during COVID-19. When we compare [digital] audience listening in October 2020 versus October 2019, we have seen a massive hike of 449% year-on-year.”...

Official switch on date announced for Christmas FM

Christmas FM is back for another year of festive cheer from midday on Saturday 28th November 2020. The temporary station wants to “Give the Gift of Home” this year by raising over €200,000 which will go directly to ALONE, a fitting charity partner considering it’s been such a difficult year for our older population. Christmas FM will be celebrating its 13th year on air this year and, since it began broadcasting, has raised almost €2.5 million for a range of charities. The costs of running Christmas FM are covered by various sponsors, ensuring that all on-air fundraising and listener donations will go directly to ALONE...

Patricia Messinger celebrates 30 years on the radio

Cork radio presenter Patricia Messinger is celebrating 30 years on air in the city this week. Patricia started broadcasting on County Sound, now C103, on the 15th November 1990 with the Cork Today show. Over the years she has dealt with many stories good and bad, sad and happy, and built up a loyal following along the way. C103 held a special Cork Today Show to mark her honour of reaching 30 years in the same show and same time slot. Ryan Tubridy of RTÉ dropped in with his congrats message as did the two other Cork chat show hosts PJ Coogan of 96FM and Neil Prendeville of RedFM...

Radio Nova secures Choosy as show sponsor

Radio Nova has announced Choosy as the sponsor of its Friday Night 80s show. The Irish comparison site, owned by Independent News and Media, helps people compare and switch their home energy supplier. Friday Night 80s is presented by Dee Woods. She says: “Let’s face it, the 1980s gave us a lot of dodgy things: hair, fashion, Kim Kardashian… but every Friday night on Radio Nova, D digs out the musical gems that rocked the decade. “From those lighters-in-the-air power ballads to the anthems you can sing into your hairbrush, get ready to be reminded of the best tunes, born in 80s, that still sound amazing today.” ...

The Classic Hit Bit has been won after 10 months

Classic Hit competition – the Classic Hits Bit – has been won after 10 months with one listener winning €4,400. Presenters on the station have been asking listeners to identify the hit that the bit comes from since February, and Agata Jaguszewsza from Dublin guessed ‘Mike Oldfield – Moonlight Shadow’ on The Damian Farrelly Show. Damian says he was delighted to reveal that Agatha had won the cash. It was a double money Monday on the hit bit, increasing the pot by double, making it an even sweeter win for the listener from Balbriggan...

Cork’s Christmas radio station returns for 2020

Cork’s dedicated seasonal radio station is back for 2020 as Cork’s 96Mas plays non-stop Christmas hits between now and the end of December. This is the third year that the seasonal station has run and will be available to listen via the Cork’s 96FM smartphone app and website; the TuneIn radio app as well as via smart speakers. Cork’s 96FM & C103 Local Content Controller, Brendan O’Driscoll tells RadioToday: “Christmas is a magical time of the year and Cork’s 96Mas will enhance that in Cork. “While our normal 96FM and C103 services will play a sprinkling of Christmas songs during December, we recognise that some people like to hear more. So we hope to hear Cork’s 96Mas being played in homes; businesses and cars across Cork City and County over the festive period.” ...

A boost for Newstalk in the latest JNLR results

Newstalk is celebrating moving into second place as the nation’s second most listened to radio station in the latest JNLR results. At RTÉ, Morning Ireland, Liveline and Sunday with Miriam have also shown big increases during the pandemic for Radio 1, however, RTÉ 2fm has suffered a loss in weekday listeners including a little at Breakfast year on year. Morning Ireland is the most-listened-to radio programme in the country, increasing listenership by 62,000 (YoY) with 491,000 tuning in each morning. The figures, released today, covers the 12-month period from October 2019 to September 2020 but are missing a quarter of the required data than usual...

A different ball game coming to Classic Hits

Classic Hits is launching a new show called A Different Ball Game presented by Shane Dowling and Louise Cantillon. The weekly show will analyse what will be a historic GAA Championship. In the first edition at 6.30pm tonight (Friday), Limerick Captain Declan Hannon shares his thoughts as Limerick looks forward to going head to head with Tipperary in the SHC on Sunday. Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton is on the show, along with 1996 All Ireland winner Larry O Gorman and comedian and GAA fan PJ Gallagher...