Radio has retained its unique role in Ireland because it remains absolutely in tune with the needs of its audience, a conference at University College Cork has heard.
The conference, Broadcast to Podcast 2026, celebrates 100 years of Irish radio.
It is being attended by some of the top figures in Irish broadcasting, including RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst, and broadcasters Joe Duffy, Sarah McInerney, John Creedon and Brian Redmond of KCLR and Dancing With The Stars.
In a keynote address to the two-day conference, RTÉ's Director of Audio Patricia Monahan traced the growth in the popularity of radio, from the first broadcast of 2RN from Little Denmark Street in Dublin on 1 January 1926, to today.
"Radio endures to this day because its core simplicities remain absolutely in tune with human needs 100 years on – it's easy to access, it's immediate, now, of the moment, and most importantly it provides a shared trusted space where this nation can hear itself think," Ms Monahan said.
"In the latter part of the [20th] century, independent radio was born expanding the network of stations available to audiences across the island to include commercial and community services at both local and national level. But even as platforms multiplied, radio retained its unique role."
In his opening remarks to the conference, the Taoiseach described the modest beginnings of radio in this country, from "a few cramped offices" in Dublin. He said radio had been formative for this country over the past century.
"Today we have a diverse and vibrant range of radio broadcasters at local and national levels, and Ireland continues to have one of the highest levels of daily radio listenership in the democratic world.
"It remains an essential part of our public discourse and community life," Micheál Martin said.
The conference is organised by broadcast historian, Dr Finola Doyle O'Neill, and features panel discussions including the interaction of news and current affairs with radio, women in radio, sport in radio and an radió agus an Ghaeilge.
