For the second time in three years, local radio station LMFM’s Late Lunch show has scooped the coveted ‘Radio Moment of the Year’ award at the annual IMRO (Irish Music Radio Awards) in Kilkenny at the weekend.
The gold award went to the Late Lunch show for ‘Losing my boys to suicide’, based on a heart-breaking interview with a mum whose two teenage sons died by suicide within 13 weeks of each other.
On the show Patrice Matthews from Castlebellingham spoke about how, when burying her son PJ, she looked across the graveyard and knew, by the devastation on the face of her other son Mikey, that she was losing him as well.
Since losing her boys, she has helped to set up the community initiative SAFE, which is a free helpline and advice service for anyone struggling with their mental health.
Organisers of the IMRO awards this year received a record number of entries for 41 categories. It is the second time in three years that Late Lunch has won the category for Radio Moment of the Year.
The Late Lunch is presented by Gerry Kelly and produced by journalist Louise Walsh. Speaking after the win, Gerry said: ” It’s wonderful to win this prestigious award again for the second time in three years.
“On behalf of my producer Louise and myself we’d like to dedicate the win to the memory of PJ and Mikey and their mother Patrice, who so bravely told her story with others in mind”.
