RTÉ Radio 1 dominates annual radio awards

RTÉ Radio 1 was once again the big winner at last night's Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI) Radio Awards winning nine times.

Irish Times’ columnist Michael Harding’s documentary Call of the Dark about the sounds of the darkness and the draw of winter, won best documentary.

The best music documentary went to Ken Sweeney for Michael Jackson's Irish Driver which was also broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1.

Brian O’Connell won best news story for the trauma of forced adoption which was broadcast on the Today with Seán O’Rourke programme on RTÉ Radio 1.

RTÉ Radio 1's Philip Boucher Hayes won news reporter of the year while Áine Lawlor was inducted into the PPI Hall of Fame along with Paul Claffey from Mid West Radio, Tony Fenton from Today FM and Walter Love from BBC Radio Ulster.

Today FM was named full service station of the year while FM104 was named music station of the year.

Radio Kerry was named local station of the year and former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne on 2fm won best newcomer of the year.

BBC Radio Ulster win four Awards: Ralph McLean won specialist music broadcaster of the year, Seamus McKee news broadcaster of the year and Stephen Nolan won speech broadcaster of the year. He also won for best news programme.

Newstalk's Joe Molloy won sports broadcaster of the year, RTÉ Radio 1 Sunday Sport won best sports story for The State of Irish Boxing - Is Paddy going PRO? . The best sports programme went to Radio Kerry's Weeshie Fogarty for his Terrace Talk.

Outstanding Achievement Award were presented to Lisa Ní Choisdealbha (Independent Broadcasters of Ireland) and JP Coakley (RTÉ) for their work bringing Radiodays Europe to Ireland in 2014.