CLARE FM have received a top gong at the New York Radio Awards for their documentary on Ennis’ Bernárd Lynch.
In the social issues category of the esteemed New York Radio Awards, Clare FM were honoured with a gold award for the documentary titled ‘Falsely Accused’, fending off competition from BBC and Al Jazeera entries.
A finalist certificate was also received by the local radio station in the health category for ‘The Voice, Laura Brennan’, a documentary on the inspirational health advocate from Ennis. The New York Radio Awards honour and promote the exceptional and innovative content being created around the globe in the Radio and Audio sectors. In 2018, Clare FM won bronze for ‘Top of the World’, a documentary on John Burke becoming the first man from the county to climb Mount Everest while a year later gold was obtained for ‘The Rescue’ which recounted Jim Warny’s involvement in saving the Chilean miners.
Produced by Padraic Flaherty, Clare FM’s Programme Director, ‘Falsely Accused’ reflects on Bernárd’s life, beginning at St Michael’s Villas. The human rights champion founded the first AIDS ministry in New York City. He publicly testified in favour of New York City’s lesbian and gay rights bill that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in jobs and public accommodations, seeing it through to passage by the New York City Council in 1986.
In the late 1980s, Bernárd received a call to tell him criminal charges were being filed against him for the alleged sexual abuse of a teenage boy. A Court Case ensued before Judge Burton B. Roberts gave a verdict: “Innocent” of all charges. Following this case Bernárd rebuilt his life and found love with his now husband, Billy Desmond.
Lynch was honoured with the Magnus Hirschfeld Award 1988 for outstanding service to the cause of Irish LGBT civil rights. In 2017, Bernárd received a proclamation from the New York City Council honouring his more than 40 years of service to the LGBT and AIDS communities in the city. He received Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad for 2019, in the Charitable Works category.
He is to be honoured with a civic reception by Clare County Council in the near future following a proposal by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG).
Galway native Flaherty said of the recognition, “It’s a very proud moment to fly the Clare flag on the world stage with our tribute documentary recognised as the best in the world in its category. Bernárd’s story is both heartbreaking and heart-warming. Since we broadcast this documentary the reaction from our listeners has been fantastic. Bernárd deserves to be recognised for all of the outstanding work he has done. We are thrilled to be bringing this trophy back to the Banner County”.
CEO of Clare FM, Ronan McManamy noted that it was a “hat-trick” of awards for his colleague. “It is fantastic that the quality programming produced by both Padraic and Clare FM continues to be recognised at such prestigious worldwide Awards. The Awards are widely seen as the ‘Oscars’ for the radio and audio sectors and it is a huge endorsement of the programming and storytelling skills of Padraic to be successful against the biggest radio operators across the world”.
