UL STUDENT TARA MCCORMACK TAKES HOME GOLD AT IMRO RADIO AWARDS

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6 Oct

Dermot Whelan presents Best Newcomer award to Tara McCormack at IMRO awards

All dials are turned up to eleven for University of Limerick Journalism MA student Tara McCormack who took home the gold last Friday night at the 2021 IMRO Radio Awards.

Tara McCormack, current University of Limerick master’s student and regular weekend presenter on Midlands 103, was presented the coveted Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year award at this year’s IMRO Radio Awards.

Arriving in tandem with the commencement of her master’s degree course at UL, Tara notes the win as welcome validation in her chosen career and professional trajectory:

“I feel that my career pathway has aligned. I was unsure, like everyone, during the past year due to the pandemic what I was meant to do. Having made the decision to go back and upskill in an area that I have great admiration for, winning this award makes me more determined and motivated to get the best out of my studies.”

This year’s IMRO Radio Awards ceremony was hosted online by Limerick man Dermot Whelan, presenter of Today FM’s Dermot and Dave morning magazine show.

“I couldn’t believe it was my name that Dermot read out. I thought maybe there was something wrong with the WiFi,” Tara joked humbly of her win.

Despite being dubbed best newcomer for 2021, Tara is no radio novice. The Offaly native currently rules the roost on Sunday afternoons at Midlands 103.

Her prolific radio career to date has seen her present and feature heavily on Irish airwaves at stations like iRadio, Spin Southwest, and Limerick’s Live 95. Tara also served a short spell as head of integration at iRadio.

Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year award winner Tara McCormack in her 2021 IMRO Radio Awards outfit.

Previous winners of the prestigious Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year award include Q Radio’s Conor Brennan, former Newstalk host and Kilkenny hurling icon Tommy Walsh, and former RTÉ 2fm host and Westlife singer Nicky Byrne.

Previously known as the PPI Radio Awards, this year’s IMRO Radio Awards were hosted online on Friday, October 1. The event was attended by more than 2,000 Irish radio industry professionals.

Other big winners on the night included The Pat Kenny Show for Best Current Affairs Programme, The Fix with Ciarán O’Connor for Best General Music Programme, and The Ray D’Arcy Show for Best Magazine Programme.

A special surprise on the night came for the event’s host, Dermot Whelan, who took home the award for Best Music and Entertainment Presenter of the Year for his work on Today FM’s Dermot and Dave morning show.