Clare FM & Ennis reporters shortlisted in IMRO awards

*Clare FM’s Padraic Flaherty. 

TWO ENNIS REPORTERS and Clare FM have been shortlisted in the 2023 IMRO Radio Awards.

Clare FM has been shortlisted twice in the Documentary category for the stations feature length specials ‘Bottler’ and ‘Falsely Accused’.

Both documentaries were produced by Clare FM Programme Director Padraic Flaherty.

Brendan Grace’s strong links to Killaloe were chronicled in ‘Bottler’ while Falsely Accused told the story of Ennis native, Bernárd Lynch and his fight for justice whilst offering relentless support to AIDS patients as a priest in the United States.

Lynch’s documentary was cited by many elected representatives at a recent civic reception held by Clare County Council. This documentary already earned Gold at the New York Radio Awards.

Former Clare FM Head of News, John Cooke who is now heard across the country on RTÉ Radio One is in the running for news reporter of the year alongside Ennis native Brian O’Connell who is now based in Co Cork.

John’s work in reporting on the tragedy in Creeslough explosion in Donegal last October has also earned him a nod in the shortlist for the news story category.

Meanwhile, Sharon Dolan D’Arcy is to join the newsroom at The Clare Champion. The Ennis native who is living in Athenry has been the courts reporter with The Sligo Weekender. She is a former editor of the community magazine, Athenry News & Views. She fills the vacancy left by Fiona McGarry with the Mayo native taking up a full-time role with the University of Galway.