Niall Stokes
Encyclopedia
Niall Stokes is the award-winning editor of the long-running fortnightly Ireland
music and political magazine Hot Press
based in Dublin. He has edited the magazine since 1977. He has been a longstanding champion of Irish music, most famously U2
in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. He was involved with The Music Show, an exhibition of the Irish music industry held in the RDS
in October 2008. He was Chairman of the Independent Radio and Television Commission (now the BCI) between 1993 and 1998. He has written a book called Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song.
He graduated from University College Dublin
with a Bachelor of Arts
degree. Alongside Neil Jordan
, Stokes was a member of a band called Eyeless (which included whilst in college. He also did some freelance work before Hot Press began. He lives with his wife, Mairin Sheehy, in Dublin.
On 20 June 2002, he appeared on an episode of Rattlebag which celebrated the 25th anniversary of Hot Press. In January 2008, he attended the recording sessions of "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew
" in Windmill Lane Studios
. He has appeared on the interactive music series The Raw Sessions
.
Stokes has also appeared as a panelist on Questions and Answers. On radio he has featured on Five Seven Live
, This Week
, Morning Ireland
and Drivetime
.
In 2007, he pursued a High Court action against Denis Desmond, Moya Doherty
and John McColgan.
Stokes received an industry award at the 2009 Meteor Awards. Tributes were paid by Niall Breslin
, Tom Dunne
, Snow Patrol
, Bono
and The Edge
.
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| 2008 || Niall Stokes || PPAI Magazine of the Year Awards - Editor of the Year ||
|-
| 2009 || Niall Stokes || Metor Music Awards - Industry Award ||
|-
8 March 2011: “Niall Stokes founded Hot Press in 1977 and has steered the magazine through over 30 years to be one of Ireland’s most successful magazines. Niall launched the career of some of the most prominent journalists in Ireland" - John Mullins, Zahara Publishing & Chairperson of Magazines Ireland.
The Irish Examiner
included Stokes in its top fifty list of "most important and influential people in Irish music during 2005".
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
music and political magazine Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
based in Dublin. He has edited the magazine since 1977. He has been a longstanding champion of Irish music, most famously U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. He was involved with The Music Show, an exhibition of the Irish music industry held in the RDS
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
in October 2008. He was Chairman of the Independent Radio and Television Commission (now the BCI) between 1993 and 1998. He has written a book called Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song.
He graduated from University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. Alongside Neil Jordan
Neil Jordan
Neil Patrick Jordan is an Irish filmmaker and novelist. He won an Academy Award for The Crying Game.- Early life :...
, Stokes was a member of a band called Eyeless (which included whilst in college. He also did some freelance work before Hot Press began. He lives with his wife, Mairin Sheehy, in Dublin.
On 20 June 2002, he appeared on an episode of Rattlebag which celebrated the 25th anniversary of Hot Press. In January 2008, he attended the recording sessions of "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew
The Ballad of Ronnie Drew
"The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" is a single by U2, The Dubliners, Kíla, and "A Band of Bowsies". The single was recorded as a charitable project, with proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Society - owing to Ronnie Drew's condition of cancer. It was recorded at Windmill Lane on 14 and 15 January 2008...
" in Windmill Lane Studios
Windmill Lane Studios
Windmill Lane Studios, also known as the "U2 studio", is a three-storey music recording studio located in Dublin, Ireland. It is located on Windmill Lane, a small street just south of City Quay and the River Liffey and a little north of Pearse Station. It was opened in 1978 by Brian Masterson who...
. He has appeared on the interactive music series The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions
The Raw Sessions is an Irish interactive music television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two in 2009. The country's first ever rockumentary series, it is presented by Dez Ryan and follows the attempts of eight musical acts to write and record an original composition in the space of twelve hours...
.
Stokes has also appeared as a panelist on Questions and Answers. On radio he has featured on Five Seven Live
Five Seven Live
Five Seven Live was an Irish radio rolling news programme, produced by RTÉ News and was aired each weekday evening on RTÉ Radio 1 between 17:00–19:00, between 1997 and 2006, the final edition being broadcast on 1 September 2006.-Programme format:...
, This Week
This Week (RTÉ radio series)
This Week is a news and current affairs programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. It airs Sundays at 13:00 and is presented by various RTÉ News and Current Affairs journalists....
, Morning Ireland
Morning Ireland
Morning Ireland is the breakfast news programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 in Ireland and is noted as that country's most listened to radio programme. It is broadcast each weekday morning between 07.00 and 09.00 and is presented by Aine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille, Rachael English and Aoife Kavanagh...
and Drivetime
Drivetime (RTÉ)
Drivetime is an Irish news and current affairs radio programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 on Mondays to Fridays between 16.30 and 19.00. It attracts approximately 229,000 listeners daily....
.
In 2007, he pursued a High Court action against Denis Desmond, Moya Doherty
Moya Doherty
Moya Doherty is a Dublin-raised Irish entrepreneur and the producer and co-founder of Riverdance, the worldwide acclaimed theatrical phenomenon, which premiered in Dublin’s Point Theatre in February 1995...
and John McColgan.
Awards
Stokes won Editor of the Year at the 2008 PPAI Magazine of the Year Awards.Stokes received an industry award at the 2009 Meteor Awards. Tributes were paid by Niall Breslin
Niall Breslin
Niall Breslin is an Irish singer and former sportsperson. He found success as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter with ska-punk/pop band The Blizzards and as a co-writer and producer with 19 Entertainment....
, Tom Dunne
Tom Dunne
Thomas 'Tom' Dunne is an Irish radio broadcaster with Newstalk. He presents The Tom Dunne Show on weekday mornings between 10:00am and midday. He used to have a show called Pet Sounds on Today FM but gave it up...
, Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
, Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
.
|-
| 2008 || Niall Stokes || PPAI Magazine of the Year Awards - Editor of the Year ||
|-
| 2009 || Niall Stokes || Metor Music Awards - Industry Award ||
|-
Other accolades
Niall Stokes was presented with a lifetime achievement by Magazines Ireland in 20118 March 2011: “Niall Stokes founded Hot Press in 1977 and has steered the magazine through over 30 years to be one of Ireland’s most successful magazines. Niall launched the career of some of the most prominent journalists in Ireland" - John Mullins, Zahara Publishing & Chairperson of Magazines Ireland.
The Irish Examiner
Irish Examiner
The Irish Examiner, formerly The Cork Examiner and then The Examiner, is an Irish national daily newspaper which primarily circulates in the Munster region surrounding its base in Cork, though it is available throughout the country...
included Stokes in its top fifty list of "most important and influential people in Irish music during 2005".
External links
- Hot Press website
- Hot Press on site at The O2 feat. Niall Stokes (#19)