Killarney

By Sean Moriarty
<h3>Less than one year after securing his own show on Radio Kerry, Ian O&rsquo;Connell has been shortlisted for a&nbsp;national award.</h3>
Back in 2017, aged 16, the Pinewood man was left with a life-changing injury after falling from his mountain bike in Killarney National Park.
Since then he has used his disability as a form of inspiration and encourages others to get on with life regardless of what is thrown at them.
After completing a media and broadcasting course at Kerry ETB, he was offered his own Radio Kerry show which features people who have overcome hardship or difficulties to achieve great things.
&lsquo;Stand Out with Ian O&rsquo;Connell&rsquo; was first broadcast on December 1 last year.
Now, Ian and his show have been nominated for an IMRO National Radio Award.
He has been shortlisted for the &lsquo;Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year&rsquo; award and will learn if he is successful at a special award ceremony at Lyrath House Hotel in County Kilkenny on October 7.
&ldquo;I was not really expecting this, it is not often I am stuck for words,&rdquo; he told the Killarney Advertiser.
Over the course of the last 10 months Ian has interviewed a wide range of guests from all backgrounds.
&ldquo;I think my interview with Rory&rsquo;s Stories and how he dealt with his gambling addiction was a very important interview,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;As was my interview with my friend Michael Maguire &ndash; he was with me on the day of my accident &ndash; we went well overtime on that show.&rdquo;
The other nominees are: Aisling Bolton Dowling (Galway Bay FM); Max Kane (East Coast FM); Emma Hill (Tipp FM) and Mandy Johnson (Newstalk).

Ian shortlisted for ‘Gay Byrne’ newcomer award

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