We’re excited to launch the next episode of our interview series at IRS+, dedicated to celebrating and amplifying the voices of talented women in our network.

In this series, we highlight the journeys, achievements, and perspectives of women in radio, with the goal of inspiring other women to explore careers in this dynamic industry and to champion greater gender diversity in media. The stories of these incredible women within the IRS+ network are not just inspiring—they’re essential to share.

In this latest episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Lauren Lynch, Radio Presenter, Clare FM. Tune in to hear the interview or read about Lauren’s journey below.

 

What inspired you to pursue a career in radio, and how did you get started in the industry?

I think what inspired me to pursue a career in radio was when I was about 14 or 15, I was in TY in secondary school, and I did work experience in another radio station, WLR in Waterford, and I absolutely loved it. And that’s kind of how I got into it.

So, I looked up courses to do in college and I ended up doing Media Studies in Irish, As Gaeilge, so all through Irish. I went to NUIG and studied Cummarsáid and I think that’s kind of what inspired me to pursue radio anyway in the first instance, yeah.

 

What has been the most rewarding experience in your radio career so far?

I think there’s been a couple up to date, even though I’m only 27. I’m quite young in the radio industry at the moment, but I think the most rewarding experience that I’ve had in my radio career so far when I was working in Red FM, I had a show through Irish, and a couple of years ago, Dúisigh Lauren Ní Loingsigh it was called, on Sunday’s mornings, but a couple of years ago it got nominated for an Oireachtas Media Award, which was absolutely insane.

It was so amazing to have my little show nominated and I suppose another rewarding experience was when I was a part of the music team in Red FM, and we won music when I was there, we won Music Station of The Year and lots of other things. So it was absolutely incredible.

And I suppose now another rewarding experience is having a full-time show in my own name at the age of 27, which isn’t, you don’t really get that anymore. Well, a lot of people that I know, it took them a lot longer to get a full-time radio show. So, at the age of 27, having a full-time radio show is quite nice, to be honest.

 

 

What are your thoughts on the current representation of women in radio?

My thoughts on the current representation of women in radio… It’s come a long way. I suppose I’m only still quite new in the radio industry, but it has in my, I suppose, four or five years, come a long way.

A lot of people that I know, a lot of women that I know, have now have a lot stronger roles. A lot of women are getting more recognised in the radio industry. I suppose in my field in, broadcasting, presenting, and there are a lot more women broadcasting and presenting their own show now in comparison to what there was a couple years ago. There still could be a lot more, but I think it’s after coming leaps and bounds in the last couple of years.

 

In your view, what steps do you think could be taken to have female voice in media more equally represented?

At the moment, there isn’t much more steps that could be taken to have a female voice in media, because like I said previously, it’s come on leaps and bounds since I first started in the media, in the radio industry.

But look, there still could be a lot more female voice in the media equally represented, I think, and I think that’s down to, I suppose women maybe not getting as much of a chance as male voices would be, as a lot of places, a lot of countries around the world, a lot of them are male voices on the radio. So, I think that’s kind of the way Ireland is going as well. I’m hoping it’s not, but from what I’ve seen, it has come on leaps and bounds.

 

What advice would you give to women aspiring to enter the radio industry?

I think the best advice I would give to I suppose anybody not even just women aspiring to enter the radio industry is, I suppose is to try everything. Get your foot in the door in all aspects of radio. But I think mainly is try and push yourself to do the best you can, to the best of your ability.

And I gave this advice, I suppose to our TY’s last week and majority of them were women, and they were aspiring to enter the radio industry, which was lovely to see. But I think it’s great here because I am technically the only full-time female on air, which seems really nice. I think that they took that as a “Oh my God, women can actually do this”, so I think it’s nice.

 

 

What role do you believe radio plays in today’s media environment, especially with the rise of digital platforms and podcasts?

I think radio plays a great role in today’s media environment. I know, especially with the rise of digital platforms and podcasts, it’s a big thing to compete with. But I think every radio, every different radio station has a different role to play. I suppose a lot here is our news and our sports, like we do a lot of sports broadcasts at the weekend with games people, if they can’t make it to them, and I mean we broadcast the All Ireland, where Clare won this year. So, it was absolutely incredible for people I supposed to listen even around the world that couldn’t make it back home for the games and stuff.

But as well I suppose for the music. Like if people just want to tune in to the radio and play a little bit of music, like while they’re while they’re doing stuff instead of just trying to pick a podcast. That is a big role, I suppose in with me as well, especially like if I’m driving, I don’t like to listen to Spotify sometimes. So, I just turn on the radio and listen to whoever’s on the radio.

 

Can you talk about any mentorship experiences you’ve had, either as a mentor or mentee, and how they’ve impacted your career?

I’ve been mentored by a lot of different people, especially in Red FM, when I was there. And that’s kind of where I got a lot of my experience to work in radio. I was mentored by Dave MacArdle and he was absolutely incredible. I learned absolutely everything from him. And so that was amazing.

And I was a mentor, not last year, the year before, for TY Media Week in Red FM. And it was incredible. A lot of those people now are actually going into their Leaving Cert year, so they’re actually looking into doing media courses. So, I think I impacted them greatly to, inspire them really, to get into media.

 

What projects are you currently excited about?

I’m currently doing a new project here at Clare FM. It is called Ar An Lá Seo and I think as a female, as a presenter or as a radio DJ, who has Irish, I’m very excited about it because it’s just a bit of a project to get Irish back on the radio. Because that’s how I started. So, it’s very nice and but other than nothing, really. Just continuing my radio show, 3:00 to 7:00, Monday to Friday. Little bit of a plug there, ‘Out The Gap’. Yeah, I’m just excited to keep going with my radio show and see what things happen in the future.

 

Lauren Lynch, Radio Presenter, Clare FM