Congratulations to all my friends and colleagues at Radio Ulster. This weekend, we were named Station of the Year at the
Irish broadcasting awards. Our listeners always knew it, but now it's official: we are the best in Irish radio. That industry accolade was won by hundreds of hours of hard work, bags of creativity, and mountains of passion from producers, presenters, editors, sound engineers, web developers, managers, production and content staff -- and technical wizards with job titles I'm still trying to work out. If you worked in Broadcasting House in Belfast you'd know what I mean when I say that Radio Ulster is unlike most other stations. I make programmes each week with some very special people, some of the brightest, most imaginative people I've ever worked with in any professional context. Like many others, I think I take all that creativity for granted much too often; but this award gives me, and others, a chance to acknowledge what makes Radio Ulster unique: the people who make the programmes, and the affectionate and intimate connection they have built with our loyal listeners.
The picture was taken after the winners were announced at the this year. Don't they look remarkably sober? In the picture: Gerry Anderson, who picked up an award for his wonderful documentary "Failed Christian", about the guitarist Henry McCullough; Susan Lovell, the head of Radio Ulster, looking proud as punch; Ralph McLean, whose encyclopaedic knowledge of music helped him scoop a Silver Award for specialist music broadcasting; and our editors Jackie Neill and Maggie Doyle, who work with Susan to get us on air, keep us all on air, and keep us "on" while we're on air. A hat-tip also to the Nolan Show team, who picked up a Silver for Current Affairs, the Blas team, who took Silver in the Craoltareacht le Gaelige category, and Across the Line, who were bronzed by the end of the evening in the music programming awards.
That's an armful of awards for Radio Ulster, including the biggie: Station of the Year.
Comment number 1.
At 12th Oct 2010, Dave wrote:Congrats Will and the rest of the team.
Having had the 'pleasure' of living in other ´óÏó´«Ã½ regions I think we here sometimes underestimate the professionalism and variety we get. I don't like everything on Radio Ulster, and that is how it should be, but what I do like is at a standard some of the other regions would love to strive to.
Keep her lit !!!
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Comment number 2.
At 12th Oct 2010, Eunice wrote:Well done Radio Ulster.
Was there no prize for the presenter with the 'enormous output' William??!! (new category for next year perhaps?!)
Its funny cos I remember when my Mum would put radio ulster on and I couldn't stand it and would turn it off..... Now I'm tuning in here and there....oh dear - am I on a slippery slope....whatever next! Bed socks and tea cosys! haha :-)
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Oct 2010, jboy2244 wrote:A BIG well done to Radio Ulster....what would mornings be like if there was no Radio Ulster....keep up the good work....
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Comment number 4.
At 13th Oct 2010, Tullycarnetbertie wrote:Good to see Radio Ulster get it. Sounds Sacred and ofcourse Sunday Sequence I enjoy listening to. Don't listen much to Talkback or The Nolan Show much now. I sent an email into the Nolan Show once, they sent me an email back to phone a seperate number from 0845955678. I phoned the number they gave and said that they would ring me back: I'm still waiting on the call back. I've also phone, emailed Talkback and ask to come on but nothing has happened. I actully heard David Dunseath say one Friday when he was presenting Talkback that Protestants weren't welcome to phone Talkback on Fridays. He said that in response to someone who had either phoned in, or texed, or emailed and said that Protestants hardly got to Talkback (which is a perception that I myself share), so I've giving up contacting Nolan or Talkback.
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