Recently, the annual IMRO Radio Awards — Ireland’s premier national broadcasting awards — took place in Kilkenny. Journalist Yuliya Ryabova from Odesa won in the Newcomer of the Year category.
Yuliya moved to Ireland in 2023 and studied radio journalism in her new country (she already had a journalism degree and TV experience in Odesa). By the following year, she became the host and producer of the podcast “The New Residents” on Radio Kerry, a regional station in Kerry County with a daily audience of around 89,000 listeners. The podcast focuses on the stories of Ukrainians living in Ireland under the Temporary Protection program. During her first year, Yuliya also produced two major documentary radio projects about the experiences of Ukrainian refugees.
“My main goal is to keep Ukraine in the focus of attention for the Irish public and Irish media. This award is an incredible recognition of the work I’ve done over the past year. I’m endlessly grateful to the Radio Kerry family for their support and belief in me,” Yuliya wrote on social media.
The award was presented to Yuliya Ryabova by Jackie Neill, chair of the IMRO Radio Awards jury. Upon stepping on stage, the Ukrainian unfurled a yellow-and-blue flag — a symbolic gesture reflecting her journey and mission in Irish media.
The podcast “The New Residents” can be listened to on the Radio Kerry website.