Bauer Media NI celebrates another big night at the 2021 IMRO Awards

Friday night saw the biggest names in Irish radio celebrate the 21st IMRO Awards virtually.

The awards mark the very best in Irish radio broadcasting and recognise those who have made contributions over the year.

In the months leading up to the awards, 106 judges deliberated over hundreds of entries and listened to over 850 hours of content from stations all across the country.

Bauer Media NI were nominated for three awards this year, two going to our very own news team. Both Sasha Wylie and Sarah McKinley were nominated for News Reporter of the Year. Plus Downtown Country’s very own Stuart Banford was nominated for Specialist Music Broadcaster.

Eleanor McEvoy, Chair of IMRO said; “The IMRO Radio Awards celebrate and applaud the many radio professionals who day-in-day-out shine a light on the important local, national and international topics and issues that affect us all and who create that all too important musical soundtrack of our lives.”

Our Chief Reporter Sasha took home the bronze award on the night!

Nigel Gould, Head of News & Sport said it was “extra-special” to have two members of the news team shortlisted.

“The IMRO awards have a long tradition of attracting the very best in the broadcasting business, north and south,” he said.

“My news team have been fortunate to have had a number of successes in this prestigious competition over the last eight years … across a range of categories, both individual and team.

“However, this is the first time we have had two team members - Sasha Wylie, our Chief Reporter and Sarah McKinley, Senior News Reporter - shortlisted in the highly competitive Reporter of the Year award. This made this year, extra special.

“I am so proud of both of them - they have worked hard over the year to produce first-class Exclusive content - and their place among some of the broadcasting elite, is richly deserved.”

Downtown Country's Stuart Banford also picked up a bronze award for Specialist Music Broadcaster.

Cool Fm & Downtown Radio's Content Director Stuart Robinson added: "It's an achievement in itself to be nominated for an IRMO Award, so it's fantastic to see three of our Bauer NI team recognised.

"During a tough few year, we've proven to be dynamic, agile and ahead of the game. Huge congratulations to Sarah, Sasha and Stuart!"

How to listen to Cool FM:

Tune into Northern Ireland’s number 1 for music, Cool FM on 97.4FM, online, on our Cool FM app, your DAB radio, or say ‘Play Cool FM’ on your Smart Speaker. We play you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists, from Pete Snodden in the morning, to the NI’s biggest songs on Cool FM’s Most Wanted 7@7 every evening.