Four radio personalities will be inducted into the PPI Hall of Fame for their services to Irish radio. RTE Sports reporter Des Cahill, Communicorp’s Pat Balfe, the late George Anderson from BBC Radio Ulster and Red FM founder Henry Condon, who died two years, will be honoured at the annual PPI awards gala dinner on Friday week.
Cahill joined RTÉ in 1984 as a news reporter, having worked with the The Kerryman. He moved to RTÉ Radio Sport reporting on major sports events, including the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, the Tour De France, the Ryder Cup and the GAA Championships. He deputised on radio shows like Liveline, The Gerry Ryan Show and The Gay Byrne Show.
Since 2009 he has been presenter of the evening edition of The Sunday Game on RTÉ Television and co-hosts with Gráinne Seoige Up for the Match on the eve of All-Ireland GAA Finals. Cahill still presents the flagship Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, where he also contributes sports bulletins and updates on Morning Ireland and Today with Sean O’Rourke.
Pat Balfe is the technical power-house in Communicorp. He is regarded as one of the best technical experts in Irish radio. Said to be “a radio nut” at heart, he commands wide respect from his peers. “Ring Pat Balfe” is shorthand for all and any emergencies in radio land. In the midst of any crisis, he calmly walks into a room as chaos threatens.
The inductees are chosen by the PPI Radio Awards committee and their peers, for skills in broadcasting and their dedication to radio in Ireland. They will be officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held this Friday at the BAI offices in Dublin.
