RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has been shortlisted for two awards at the Celtic Media Festival.
The station is up for Radio Station of the Year, and Frances Nic Géadaigh from the station’s Donegal studio in Doirí Beaga has been nominated for Radio Presenter of the Year.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta was presented with the award for station of the year at the festival in 2009 and 2011, and this year’s nomination comes as the station prepares to celebrate 40 years on air in April.
They will be competing against BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio na nGàidheal, BBC Radio Wales and Isles fm Scotland for the coveted bronze torc.
Frances Nic Géadaigh will compete against 3 others for the Presenter of the Year award.
Frances has worked with the station since 1989 in the Doirí Beaga studio in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
In 2011 the local community there was rocked by the court case of paedophile Mickey Ferry, who was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. Frances carried out interviews with several people involved in the case, including Derek Mulligan and Director of Coláiste Cholmcille Seosamh Ó Gallchóir, on magazine programme Barrscéalta, demonstrating great skill, professionalism and compassion in dealing with a difficult subject matter.
Frances is well-known to Donegal listeners as one of the voices of the station’s newsroom, and her contribution to the excellent coverage of the General Election campaign in 2011 was another example of her skill as a broadcaster.
Manager of the Donegal station, Séamus Mac Géidigh, said “The Doirí Beaga team is delighted for Frances, and very proud of her. This nomination is a fitting recognition of her dedication to the service for more than 20 years, and reflects a broad skill set, both broadcasting and personal, that allows her to deal effectively with a wide range of subjects.”
Presenter of the year was won last year by Rónán Mac Aodha Bhuí.
The winners of the awards will be announced at the Celtic Media Festival in Derry from 18-20 April.
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