Radio Telefís na hÉireann (RTÉ), Ireland’s national broadcaster, has been named among the broadcasters of the year at the New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs Awards. Their stations, Radio 1 and Lyric FM, have been named among the world’s best radio stations.

RTE received four Gold Awards for documentaries including Seamus Martin’s five-part series “Death of an Empire”, marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union. The others were “The Curious Ear - Conversations in the Dark”, “My Dad's Depression” and “The Curious Ear - Because You Can't Smell Someone on Skype”.

In all, this year, RTE’s awards include 13 programmes in the “Documentary on One” series, three for “Drama on One”, two for the “Curious Ear” series and one for the Athena media produced “Death of an Empire”.

Lyric FM received six awards for programmes, including a silver medal for “Piano Keys”, an educational podcast series that saw Professor Réamonn Keary, in conversation with Liz Nolan, guide music students through the 2012 Royal Irish Academy of Music Local Centre Piano Examinations.

Clare Duignan, Managing Director of RTÉ Radio, said, "It's true to say that, as a people, we have always taken particular delight in recognition from across the waters, be it the Atlantic Ocean or the Irish Sea. And it is so with this award.

“To be named Broadcaster of the Year in this awesome international context - among world-renowned peers like the BBC and American Public Media - is important not just for RTÉ, but for Ireland.”