Dr Finola Doyle O’Neill joins judging panel for 2026 IMRO Radio Awards

5 Oct 2026

• The annual IMRO awards recognise the voices on air and the production teams who contribute to the strength and diversity of Irish radio and broadcasting.

Dr Finola Doyle O’Neill, Broadcast and Legal Historian in UCC School of History, was selected to serve as a judge for the prestigious 2026 IMRO Radio Awards, which celebrate the best of Irish radio and broadcasting.

Dr Doyle O’Neill was the only Irish academic invited to join the judging panel, alongside leading radio practitioners, media trainers and senior figures from national and local radio.

Her invitation to judge reflects her expertise in the history of Irish radio and follows the success of Radio 100: From Broadcast to Podcast conference, convened by Dr Doyle O’Neill at University College Cork in 2026. The conference brought together academics, broadcasters and industry experts to explore a century of radio in Ireland and the evolution of audio broadcasting.

The annual IMRO awards took place at Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny on Friday, 2 October, bringing together leading figures from national and local radio across Ireland.

Dr Doyle O’Neill said: “It was a great privilege to be chosen as a judge and it is an acknowledgment of  the ongoing research on broadcast media being conducted by the School of History at UCC.”

To protect the independence and integrity of the judging process, judges do not disclose the categories they assess, ensuring that judging remains confidential and free from canvassing by nominees.

Among the night’s winners were Cork’s RedFM presenter Neil Prendeville, who claimed the prestigious Speech Broadcaster of the Year award, while RTÉ Radio 1 journalist, broadcaster, and UCC BA History and English alumnus, Brian O’Connell took home Gold in the News Reporter of the Year category.