text: Awards 2013 - Clare FM
  Pictured at the Glor na nGael awards held in Clontarf Castle, Antoine O'Coileain (Gael Linn), Susan Murphy accepting the award for Clare FM, Donal O'Loinsigh (Presenter of Clare FM's Cúl Caint) accepting the award for Clár as Gaelige.
  GSK Medical Media Awards – Morning Focus
  Justice Media Award – Local Radio – Morning Focus
  Glor na nGael Award
  Mick Dunne Memorial Award
  3 PPI awards
  CLARE FM WINS TOP AWARD FOR CANCER AWARENESS
  The moving personal cancer experiences of three Clare women have lead the county's number one radio station to further success at this year's Irish Medical Media Awards.
  Clare FM's Morning Focus Presenter John Cooke and producer Niamh McNamara, were honoured at a ceremony in Dublin on Wednesday night for a feature on Ovarian Cancer which was broadcast in May of this year.
  The interview heard Ann Murphy from Tulla, Ennistymon woman Margaret Barry and Marie Phelan from Ennis outline their own battles with cancer of the ovaries in a bid to encourage other women to be aware of signs and symptoms to ensure early detection and save lives. It's the second year in a row that Clare FM has won the award sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, which recognises excellence in health related journalism, and other big winners on the night included RTE and The Irish Times. The judging panel was chaired by RTE Journalist and former Questions and Answers Presenter Dr. John Bowman who presented the awards.
  "Empowering Broadcast"
  According to the judges "John Cooke of Clare FM won the consumer broadcast media award at the GSK Irish Medical Media Awards for his exploration of ovarian cancer with three patients; for the educational and empowering value of the broadcast; and for his ability to prompt all the relevant information from his witnesses with appropriate and sympathetic questioning"
  The winning radio feature was broadcast live on Clare FM's Morning Focus in May of this year and during the programme participants Marie Phelan and Margaret Barry outlined how they had overcome ovarian cancer, while oncology nurse Ann Murphy also detailed her own experience of the fourth most common cancer facing women, outlining statistics from the Irish Cancer Society revealing that over 300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Ireland every year. Poignantly, Ann also spoke of losing her sister Grainne to the disease last year and went on to tell listeners of her "informed decision" to undergo further preventative measures to avoid other cancers as her family carry a rare cancer causing gene. The defective BRCA 1 gene greatly increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer and was brought to world-wide attention this year when fellow carrier and Hollywood Actor Angelina Jolie revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy.
  The three women who spoke to Clare FM are part of the Slainte an Chlair Clare Cancer Support Centre, and paying tribute to their bravery, presenter John Cooke thanked them and others who are part of the Kilnamona-based group. "Margaret, Ann and Marie are three inspirational women that I was privileged to meet", he said, "and I salute their openness and generosity in sharing their experiences with me and my listeners. I've been fortunate to get to know many amazing people though Slainte an Chlair", he added, "who have overcome their own personal challenges to speak out about the illnesses we fear, or have lost someone through, but I do believe that in doing so, they have made a huge difference to the lives of others facing cancer treatment, and to the survival chances of many who will face these illnesses in the future". Wishing his three interviewees good health and happiness, Mr Cooke concluded with the view that "by getting the county talking about cancer and raising awareness, I hope that we are making progress in the fight against the disease.
  Clare FM's Morning Focus also won an Irish Medical Media Award last year for a series of interviews in which John Cooke spoke to high profile local men about their experience of cancer, while the programme also celebrated a Bronze Award in the Best Current Affairs Programme Category at the PPI National Radio Awards last month, and a Justice Media Award in June.
  Commenting on the Irish Medical Media Award win, Clare FM's General Manager Susan Murphy described the prize as "a wonderful tribute to these courageous ladies who told us their stories and allowed us to highlight this very important issue. It's an honour for the Station to win an award for highlighting something as important as ovarian cancer", she added and "we are delighted to be recognised in these awards over the last couple of years". Ms Murphy concluded by praising another "great achievement for the Morning Focus team, who work tirelessly to highlight issues affecting our listeners".
  Further information on local cancer support services and the Slainte an Chlair group can be found on www.clarecancersupport.com
  JUSTICE MEDIA AWARD – LOCAL RADIO
  Ken Murphy, The Director General of the Law Society, John Cooke (presenter) for the radio slot: 'Free legal advice – on Clare FM's Morning Focus'., and James McCourt, The President of The Law Society.
  The winner of the Justice Media Award in the 'Local Radio' category for 2013 is John Cooke (presenter) for the radio slot: 'Free legal advice – on Clare FM's Morning Focus'.
  The National Awards are presented by the Law Society of Ireland each year to Media Organisations.
  "John Cooke is to be congratulated for the long-running, free legal advice slot that, time and again, informs and enlightens local listeners about their rights and the legal issues that, directly, affect them. Advice is provided by solicitors from the local Free Legal Advice Centre to explain complex legal issues in simple terms.
  "Running for the past five years, this programme continues to draw a large audience. The programme topics submitted in this year's Justice Media Awards dealt with issues such as: domestic violence and the legal protections available, as well as proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act and anti-social tenants.
  "Solicitors on other programmes have addressed the Civil Partnership Act, the household charge, the new property tax, septic-tank registration laws and anti-social behaviour, among other matters.
  The judges also congratulated two Ennis-based solicitors who took part in the winning programme, namely Mairead Doyle (Michael Houlihan & Partners) and William Cahir (Cahir & Company)
  It has been a successful start to the year for Clare FM, as it was announced on Friday February 22nd that the Station are this year's recipients of the prestigious Glór na nGael award for Local Commercial Radio. This is the fourth time the Station has received the award. This National Award celebrates the achievements of the Station in promoting the Irish language through its entire programming schedule. Special mention was made of Clare FM's Irish show "Cul Chaint" presented by Domhnall O'Loinsigh on Saturday mornings at 9am and the bi-lingual content of the Irish traditional shows "The West Wind" broadcast weekdays from 7pm. The Station will be presented with their award at a ceremony in Clontarf Castle in Dublin in April.
  At the beginning of February, Clare FM were announced as the winners of the "Camogie Association & RTE Mick Dunne Memorial Award for Local Radio". The award is in recognition of the Stations promotion and coverage of Camogie within the County. It is the third time the Station has picked up the award. Clare FM will be presented with their award at a ceremony in Croke Park on Friday March 1st.
  MiCK DUNNE MEMORIAL AWARD Clare FM's coverage of Gaelic games in the county has been recognised with a national award. Clare's number one radio station has been awarded the 2012 RTE Mick Dunne Memorial Award for Local Radio from the Camogie Association, honouring the station's commitment to the sport.
  It's the third time the station's coverage of camogie has been honoured, having previously collected this honour in 2011 and in 2009. Meanwhile, Clare camogie PRO Brid McNamara has also been honoured by the Camogie Association, and has been named as Press Relations Officer of the Year. She's the first officer to lift the honour in two successive years.
  SUCCESS FOR CLARE FM AT THE PPI AWARDS"]Clare FM had further success at this year's PPI Radio Awards.
  The award winning station received three nominations and walked away with three awards in three categories.
  Clare FM's Niamh McNamara, Ronan Burke, and Gavin Grace
  Silver in the News Bulletin Category
  Bronze in the Current Affairs Category for Morning Focus
  Bronze in the Specialist Music Category for Ronan Burke and The West Wind Live from Willie Clancy
  The PPI's are now in their thirteenth year and are acknowledged as the "Oscars" of the Radio Industry. In excess of over 600 entries were received this year in over thirty categories and the awards are open to all radio stations broadcasting in both Southern and Northern Ireland.
  Commenting on the awards, Clare FM's General Manager Susan Murphy said "It was a wonderful night for us with our own Liam O'Shea being inducted into the Hall of Fame and a great achievement for the Station to come away with three awards, it's a testament to the hard work that our Newsroom put in, as they are in the running for an award practically every year. I was particularly happy to see The West Wind receive recognition in the specialist music category. There are few stations in the Country that provide five nights of quality traditional music and song, and it was a proud moment to see Clare FM's West Wind up on the screen on Friday night