“Winter in Dublin” is a dynamic and diverse programme of events taking place across the Irish capital from November through to January. This exciting initiative aims to encourage people to take a short break in Dublin during the winter months, with events suitable for all ages, though particularly targeting “young, unconstrained adults.” Whether it’s whiskey tasting at Pearse Lyons Distillery, experiencing the magic of a glittering Christmas spectacular, or enjoying the festive charm of “Christmas at the Castle,” there’s no shortage of activities to make a winter trip to Dublin unforgettable. With so much going on, Dublin has never been a more appealing place to spend a winter break.

For this campaign, urbanmedia has strategically focused on engaging audiences outside Dublin primarily (with a small focus on Dublin itself), ensuring that listeners in other parts of the country are aware of the exciting opportunities awaiting them in the capital. 

Over the three months, urbanmedia will roll out 34 week-long promotions, 12 vibrant and engaging social videos, and 6 tailored radio commercials with a heavyweight campaign across all stations, all complemented by an ongoing digital audio presence across our digital audio exchange umax. A multi format campaign to really drive home the key message for Failte Ireland across this festive period.

The campaign is designed to create an immersive experience, with presenters discussing the events they’re most excited about and sharing their personal recommendations through video and on air. This approach ensures that the enthusiasm and energy are felt across social platforms and the airwaves, making it clear that Dublin is the place to be this winter.

This marks the third major collaboration between Fáilte Ireland and Urbanmedia, and the partnership continues to grow stronger. With each new project, the teams are committed to showcasing the best of what Ireland has to offer, and this collaboration is expected to set the stage for even more exciting initiatives in the future.

For more information on bespoke solutions we can provide to your clients please contact your urbanmedia representative.

Chris Spierin, Marketing Communications at Failte Ireland

“We’re delighted to partner with Urban Media this year on our Winter in Dublin campaign. Working closely with the Urban Media team we have been able to bring to life the excitement of a winter trip to Dublin in a way that is truly authentic and meaningly, with presenters across the station network sharing their experiences across the airwaves and on social media. The partnership enables us to showcase a broad and exciting range of things to see & do in Dublin and inspiring visitors to start planning their winter break”

We are thrilled to announce a sponsorship opportunity with FM104’s award-winning “Quid Games 2” running January 2025, inspired by the global phenomenon series “Squid Game.”

This immersive and innovative campaign, hosted by the dynamic duo Graham & Nathan, is set to be one of the most exciting events on air in Dublin.

Quid Games is a daring and entertaining competition that offers a grand prize of €20,000 to one lucky winner out of 104 contestants. Launched in February 2024, the campaign has garnered massive attention and engagement, making it an ideal platform for brands to enhance their visibility and connect with a vibrant audience.

Partnering with Quid Games offers extensive media coverage through high-impact digital ads, targeted strategies, engaging social media promotions, and press advertisements. The campaign also utilises diverse recruitment channels, including on-air challenges, social media engagement, and on-street activations at strategic locations. 

The live event is held at The Helix, and is transformed into ‘The Games Room,’ features live updates, interviews, and the grand competition, providing ample opportunities for partner brand activation. Additional benefits include partner branding in all paid media, cross-station promotion, outside broadcasts from sponsor locations, and social media inclusion, all enhancing brand visibility and engagement. 

This is your chance to be part of an award-winning campaign that promises to drive awareness, engagement, and visibility for your brand. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with a highly engaged audience and make a lasting impact.

For more information and to discuss partnership opportunities, please contact our sales team. Join us in making Quid Games 2.0 bigger, better, and the most talked-about event in Dublin!

urbanmedia and The Irish Sun scooped up the ‘Podcast of The Year’ award at this year’s Irish Journalism Awards for their production of The Stardust Tragedy podcast series.

The eight-part series tells the story of Ireland’s worst fire disaster from the very beginning. 

Produced by urbanmedia’s Vivienne Wood, Q102’s Kevin O’Mahony and urbanmedia’s Head of Digital, Sasha Hamrogue, the series heard from survivors and family members who were forced to deal with the emotional scars of the fire, which was responsible for 48 deaths in 1981. 

Journalism at its finest, the podcast was a product of months of hard work from Irish Sun editor Fiona Wynne, scriptwriter and head of news Neil Cotter, senior reporter Michael Doyle and narrator and deputy night editor Damien Lane alongside the urban team.

Two things that are synonymous with Christmas – the sound of Silent Night and the story of “The Night before Christmas”. They are powerful audio cues – you know the song within the first few notes and the story within the first few words. Combine them with the addition of a very well recognised and distinct Irish voiceover reading the story and you have all the makings of a beautiful Christmas message – one to make the whole family feel warm and joyous in the holiday season. “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . . .” begins Donncha O’Callaghan to the backing track of Silent Night, the familiarity and warmth capturing the listeners attention.

However we quickly realise this advert has a much stronger message when he continues “In wartorn lands Children just want a cuddle, but their parents are buried under the rubble”. We’re introduced to Cilla, a child who has lost her leg from a bomb attack, who must walk with a frame and who like any 4 year old just wants her mom, a Christmas wish that sadly won’t be delivered. We’re reminded that Christmas isn’t a joyous time for all as we’re transferred to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East through the powerful line “In Gaza and Lebanon in the silence between the bombs, children’s nightmares rage on.” Our thoughts are no longer about Christmas cheer, instead about the nightmare some will face this year.

The perfectly timed call to action, explains how UNICEF are on the ground trying to save Children’s lives and how you can help by donating at unicef.ie. Once there the campaign continues with the headline “A Silent Nightmare in Gaza and Lebanon”, a picture that reminds us of Cilla and a Donate Now button. 

A simple, effective, emotive and powerful audio campaign with a clear message and action.

If this campaign has moved you, you can donate at https://www.unicef.ie/

The star of the show? The VR Ski Machine challenge, of course! The only draw, it was hard to get a turn with Stephen Joyce hogging the machine most of the night. It was hugely popular giving guests the chance to hit the virtual slopes, and they gave it their all to clock the fastest times. With a €4,000 ski holiday up for grabs, the competition was fierce, but the excitement was off the charts. Huge congratulations to our big winner Tom Cullen from Denstu – get those snow boots ready for your epic Ski adventure. There was prizes for the slowest time too, but we will leave their names out of the piece for fear of embarrassment 

Adding to the magic of the evening were our incredible hosts, Crossy and Zeinab from FM104’s Strawberry Alarm Clock, who kept the energy high and the laughs coming all night long. From hyping up the crowd to leading the games and announcing the winners, their charm and quick wit had everyone in stitches. They were the glue that held the fun together, and we couldn’t have asked for a better duo to steer the ship! FM104‘s street team were also on hand to help out during the night. 

But that wasn’t all…. from party games to the Best Dressed showdown, there was fun to be had at every turn. With plenty of vouchers with thanks to Just Eat and One4All on the line, everyone brought their A-game with some seriously snazzy outfits, great ski attire and others with questionable choices that deserved an honourable mention.

The vibe was unbeatable – laughter, cheers, and the clinking of glasses filled the air as everyone soaked up the après ski spirit. The festive décor and wintry ambiance made it easy to forget we were in the heart of Dublin, but it was a really good way to kick off the festive season. 

A massive thank you to everyone who joined us and made the night so special. Thanks to the teams in urbanmedia and News Ireland for organising, and thanks to all agencies and guests for bringing smiles, and holiday cheer to help make the party a smashing success.

We hope to have plenty more exciting events coming your way, so stay tuned. Until then, we hope you have a very merry Christmas, happy holiday and a fantastic new year from all of us at urbanmedia. 

Ireland’s biggest social media stars and best friends, Shanice Griffin, Brandon Caulfield, and Daniel Devlin return for Season Two of their hit series, “The Socially Awkward Podcast” after a very successful Season One.

Sponsored by RTÉ Player, the gang’s new season started on Thursday 17th of October on Spotify, Apple Podcasts with full videos each week uploaded on YouTube. With an exciting lineup of guests, the gang spill the behind-the-scenes tea on their lives, share hilarious and cringe anecdotes, while navigating the ups and downs of being successful yet awkward Irish influencers in their early 20s. 

Produced by Urban Media / Wireless Ireland, The Socially Awkward Podcast has been a hit on the Irish Podcast charts, hitting the top ten downloads on Spotify for their podcast launch earlier this year. Previous guests on the show have included Irish influencers like Nasti, Kasey Campion, The Galaxy Boys, Darragh Flood and Nia Gallagher. 

Season Two of The Socially Awkward Podcast is proudly sponsored by RTÉ Player, the home of live TV and the biggest shows from home and abroad. From hit Irish dramas to documentaries, entertainment, comedy and live sport, RTÉ Player is the go-to platform for hours of entertainment, anytime, anywhere. The Socially Awkward Podcast returned on Thursday 17th October with new episodes available every Thursday. In the meantime, all previous episodes of Season One are now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Aoife Byrne, Head of RTÉ Player has said she is delighted to be a sponsor of the podcast. 

“We are thrilled to be on-board as sponsors of The Socially Awkward podcast. It is so important as a Public Service Streamer that RTÉ Player connects with young Irish audiences and sponsoring a show with such great talent as Shanice — who starred in one of our RTÉ Player Original series last year— Brandon and Daniel, is a great way of us spreading the word about what RTÉ has to offer audiences of all ages. 

We have so much great content to discover, from nearly 5k hours of on-demand catalogue featuring 100s of premium drama boxsets and doc series, to unmissable and exclusive live sport and entertainment. And, unlike global streamers, we create and curate content for Irish audiences.” 

Listen to the podcast trailer here: 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7KwQitNEBT31qotMv4Bkrp?si=5b0e8d8c408c4552 

Listen to all twelve of episodes of Series One of The Socially Awkward podcast here: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/4K0ICi9FgGTui3weOKKu1t?si=47596f35117f43ca 

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-socially-awkward-pod/id1755175876 

Hosted by the energetic and lively Izzy on Cork’s 96FM, this is the show rebels tune into in the evening to give them the boost they need. Enjoy a perfect mix of music, entertainment and latest news on the Big Drive Home with Izzy Showbizzy

Izzy brings the perfect blend of personality and tunes to your drive home. Izzy covers its all from the hottest tracks to vital traffic updates, keeping the Rebel County entertained and informed during the week. Her infectious energy and quick wit make her the go to companion for Cork’s commuters making the drive home something to look forward to!

The Big Drive Home reaches thousands of listeners every week, offering brands a powerful way to connect with Cork’s vibrant community through a show that’s all about good music and energy. With a wide-ranging listenership and a strong local identity 96FM’s Big Drive Home gives brands a meaningful presence in the city and country communities.

The jam packed sponsorship package includes

• Live mentions – 3 per hour
• Pre-Recored Show Promos – 2 per day
• Total mentions per month – 296

For more information and to discuss potential partnership please contact your urbanmedia representative

What attracted you to the role of editor of TalkSPORT Ireland?

I have always been a huge fan of talkSPORT and the chance to be involved with the world’s largest sports radio station as they launch in Ireland, was an opportunity I couldn’t pass by

Why do you think sport plays such an important part in Irish lives?

Sports is an escape for many, whether it’s playing for your local team or watching your favourite team, nothing comes close to it. The fact that your weekend can be potentially ruined if your team loses the early Premier League kick off can be a thrill too.

What’s your favourite sporting moment?

Ronan O’Gara’s drop goal v Wales in 2009/ Liverpool’s comeback win over Barcelona in 2019.

What sort of content are you looking to create in the new role?

I want talkSPORT to become the new home for all sports content in Ireland. A mix of shows that can be listened to or watched, where you can get expert opinions and analysis in an entertaining manner.

With the success of the Irish Rugby Team and the recent Olympic successes is the future of Irish sport looking bright?

100%, I feel we will look back on Paris 2024 as the games that changed Team Ireland forever. Not only the men’s rugby team, but the women have just beaten the world champions, New Zealand, and with the Women’s World Cup next summer, it’s something to keep an eye on.

Who are your favourite sporting teams?

I’ve been a Liverpool fan since I was four after watching us beat AC Milan in the miracle of Istanbul. On the rugby front, it’s Leinster. Sadly for GAA, as a Wicklow man, there’s little to shout about.

Will GAA feature in TalkSPORT Ireland content?

GAA is going to play a huge role in talkSPORT Ireland content. With a host of some of our greatest ever GAA players recently retired, you can expect to hear the untold stories and secrets from them over the coming while.

Credit: SCS Software

Ever wonder if you spend too much time sitting behind a desk? A trucking company in the US asked players of the video game ‘American Truck Simulator’ the same thing when they started advertising for real Truck Driving careers inside the game.

Since video games first came on to the scene, companies have been curious about how to advertise to their customers through the expansive and ever-changing medium. Over the years there has been everything from straightforward product placement to full games made just for advertising a company/product. However, the ad we’re talking about today is a straight copy and paste of real-world advertising.

In 2023 the trucking industry was struggling to recruit new drivers, so one company turned to a popular but niche game, ‘American Truck Simulator’. The game simulates driving & parking a truck in excruciating detail, even penalising the player when they break any driving laws. The company, Schneider National, displayed their ads across virtual billboards on the virtual highway, calling on the virtual drivers to hit the real road.

This was an expertly crafted campaign that displays the amazing result of when user research and marketing creativity come together. Even gamers, a difficult group to please, reacted generally positively to the ad campaign, showing how well Schneider understood who they were marketing to.

Advertising is not just about the campaign itself; the medium can be just as important. When you truly understand your audience and you meet them on their terms, your ad can start to take a whole life of its own.

It kicked off in Galway in October, running a three week major station campaign. This powerful campaign spans across commercial spot and promotions, web, digital audio, video  and social showcasing Circle K’s commitment to local communities and giving back to grassroots football in a big way.

How it works

Week One & Two

Simply complete the competition form on the station website by entering your FAI Club Mark accredited football club and tell us why your club deserves to win. At the end of week two a shortlist of 10 teams will be selected

Week Three

Voting will be open for one week. The three clubs with the most votes will win kits for their club. 

Finally in May a draw will take place with all clubs entered for a chance to win the Grand Prize and meet their heroes.

The response has been amazing. We’ve had over 700 entries which brought hundreds of amazing stories highlighting the passion and dedication of clubs across Galway. Galway Bay FM then had the tough task of narrowing the list down to ten deserving finalists. As we moved into the voting phase, listeners all over the region eagerly submitted their votes to support their favourite clubs, with the winners to be revealed on Friday, October 25th. There was over 3000 votes across the partnership which is astonishing which highlights the level of interest this giveaway is generating locally. Three lucky teams (Tuam Celtic, Colga, and West Utd) won four sets of kit for their teams which will be personally delivered to the clubs by our street teams creating amazing video content to be shared out across our stations and Circle K’s social platforms.

This is just the start of this campaign with this competition rolling out across the main urban cities of Ireland, so do get involved!

Club Mark

The FAI Club Mark Programme is a three-tiered accreditation award based on best practice in the governance, management and administration of a football club. Clubs start their journey at Entry Level and can then progress to become a One Star and Two Star club. Each step challenges the club to implement policies and procedures in line with best practice.

Football is Ireland’s number one participation sport, playing a vital role in society at all levels. Circle K aims to build awareness, emphasise the importance of grassroots football and support the development of clubs nationwide. We also recognise the significant impact supporting local football clubs can have on communities across Ireland.

For more information on Club Mark click here.