Turning Up the Volume on the Race for the Áras

Our “Battle of the Airwaves” Series is our ongoing analysis of how Ireland’s presidential hopefuls are competing for attention on radio, the medium that still reaches nearly four in five adults nationwide. By tracking mentions, tone, and issue framing across both national talk shows and local stations, we can see not just who is speaking loudest, but who is converting airtime into audience reach. This is where campaign messaging meets real-world delivery: a candidate’s ability to dominate drivetime conversation in Dublin, spark debate on a local station in Galway, or ride a wave of positive sentiment after a key interview often matters as much as a press release or social media post. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be charting this evolving “battle of the airwaves” in real time, unpacking where candidates are gaining ground, where narratives are slipping, and how Ireland’s radio landscape is shaping the race for the Áras.