By Sean Moriarty

Less than one year after securing his own show on Radio Kerry, Ian O’Connell has been shortlisted for a national award.

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.

‘Stand Out with Ian O’Connell’ 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 ‘Gay Byrne Newcomer of the Year’ award and will learn if he is successful at a special award ceremony at Lyrath House Hotel in County Kilkenny on October 7.

“I was not really expecting this, it is not often I am stuck for words,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

Over the course of the last 10 months Ian has interviewed a wide range of guests from all backgrounds.

“I think my interview with Rory’s Stories and how he dealt with his gambling addiction was a very important interview,” he added. “As was my interview with my friend Michael Maguire – he was with me on the day of my accident – we went well overtime on that show.”

The other nominees are: Aisling Bolton Dowling (Galway Bay FM); Max Kane (East Coast FM); Emma Hill (Tipp FM) and Mandy Johnson (Newstalk).