BBC Radio Ulster wins four gold IMRO awards

John Toal poses with his gold IMRO award along with two colleagues. John Toal has short, greying hair and round, thick-rimmed glasses. He is wearing an emerald green blazer over black clothing. A man with short, ginger hair in a black suit is posing to the left and Ciara Riddle, a woman with curly ginger hair is smiling to his right. She is weaing a royal blue velvet dress with capped sleeves and large silver necklace. All three are holding the award which is shaped like a gold microphone, covered by gold earphones. IMRO Awards

BBC Radio Ulster presenter John Toal (centre) won gold in the magazine show category for his weekly Saturday programme

BBC Radio Ulster has won four gold awards at the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) Awards 2025.

Stephen Nolan won gold in the News Broadcaster of the Year category, with BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra presenter Richard Morgan winning silver.

In total, BBC Northern Ireland won 10 awards at the ceremony in County Kilkenny, in the Republic of Ireland, on Friday.

It comes after securing 15 nominations across numerous categories.

Stephen Nolan pictured beside a window in a room with red brick and white walls. He has short, grey hair and a black shirt. He is standing with folded arms

Stephen Nolan won gold for News Broadcaster of the Year

Damien Magee, BBC NI Interim Head of News and Current Affairs, said: "These awards are a well-deserved recognition of our journalism at BBC News in Northern Ireland.

"Our teams in Radio News and Current Affairs work really hard to deliver high quality programmes and content for our audiences.

"These awards, against such strong competition, are a testament to that hard work."

'Outstanding talent'

Emma Dunseith, Head of Content Production at BBC Northern Ireland said: "We're incredibly proud to see BBC Radio Ulster recognised at the IMROs.

"These awards are a testament to the creativity, dedication and passion of our teams both on and off air. It's an honour to be celebrated among such outstanding talent, and we remain committed to delivering distinctive, high-quality content that resonates with audiences across Northern Ireland and beyond."

The full list of BBC NI winners:

  • Gold for BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan in the News Broadcaster of the Year category

  • Gold for A Century of Stories in the Music Special / Music Event category

  • Gold for BBC Radio Ulster's Saturday with John Toal in the Magazine category

  • Gold for BBC Gaeilge / BBC Radio Ulster's Blas: Gearóid Ó Cairealláin 1957-2024 in the Craoltóireacht le Gaeilge category

  • Silver for BBC Radio Ulster's Richard Morgan in the News Broadcaster of the Year category

  • Silver for BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster coverage of the Belfast riots in the News Programme – Full Service category, and a Bronze for Evening Extra's coverage of Armagh for Sam

  • Silver for BBC Radio Ulster's The Hazard of the Die in the Music, Arts & Culture Documentary category

  • Silver for BBC Radio Ulster's Daddy, What's a Podcast? in the Specialist Speech Programme category

  • Bronze for BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show in the Interactive Speech programme category

A man with short brown hair smiles at the camera holding a photo of himself. The man wears a black suit and blue shirt. In the photo he wears a black suit, black shirt and a white clerical collar. Behind him is a white board with the words 'IMRO' in yellow, green, blue and red writing. The words 'Coimisiún na Meán' are also on the board in black writing as well as a logo of a gold microphone with the words 'imro Radio Awards.'IMRO

Fr Brian Darcy was one of three to be inducted in to the IMRO Hall of Fame

Fr Brian Darcy, who hosts a show on Sunday mornings on Radio Ulster, was among three to be inducted into the IMRO Hall of Fame.

His induction took place at a ceremony at the IMRO offices on Tuesday, ahead of the awards show.

Chair of the IMRO Radio Awards, Chris Doyle, said: "Each inductee has not only shaped the sound of Irish radio but has also inspired generations of listeners and professionals alike."

John Bowman and Scott Williams are among the other two inductees into the IMRO Hall of Fame.

Related topics