Niall Stokes
Born1951 (age 72–73)
Dublin, Ireland
EducationBachelor of Arts
Alma materUniversity College Dublin (UCD) Synge Street CBS
Occupation(s)Music journalist, editor
Notable credit(s)Editor of Hot Press,
Editor of the Year (2008 PPAI Magazine of the Year Awards),
Industry Award (2009 Meteor Awards)
SpouseMairin Sheehy

Niall Stokes (born 1951 in Dublin)[1] is a music journalist who has served as 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.[2] He was Chairman of the Independent Radio and Television Commission (now the BCI) between 1993 and 1998. He has written several books, including Into the Heart: The Stories Behind Every U2 Song.

He graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Whilst in college, Stokes was a member of a band called Eyeless, alongside Neil Jordan. He was also a freelance writer for outlets such as The Irish Times before founding Hot Press.[1] He lives with his wife, Mairin Sheehy, in Dublin.[3]

On 20 June 2002, he appeared on an episode of Rattlebag which celebrated the 25th anniversary of Hot Press.[4] In January 2008, he attended the recording sessions of "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" in Windmill Lane Studios.[5] He has appeared on the interactive music series The Raw Sessions.[6]

Stokes has also appeared as a panellist on Questions and Answers.[7] On radio he has featured on Five Seven Live,[8] This Week,[9] Morning Ireland[10] and Drivetime.[11]

In 2007, he pursued a High Court action against high-profile MCD promoter Denis Desmond and Riverdance's Moya Doherty and John McColgan in the aftermath of the Hot Press Music Hall of Fame Museum's failure.[12] The "substantial" court action was settled.

Awards

Stokes won Editor of the Year at the 2008 PPAI Magazine of the Year Awards.[13]

Stokes received an industry award at the 2009 Meteor Awards.[14] Tributes were paid by Niall Breslin, Tom Dunne, Snow Patrol, Bono and The Edge.[15]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008Niall StokesPPAI Magazine of the Year Awards – Editor of the YearWon
2009Niall StokesMetor Music Awards – Industry AwardWon

Other accolades

Niall Stokes was presented with a lifetime achievement by Magazines Ireland in 2011 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.[16][17]

The Irish Examiner included Stokes in its top fifty list of "most important and influential people in Irish music during 2005".[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Those who called the tune in Irish music during 2005". Irish Examiner. 4 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 November 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "Music to their ears". Irish Independent. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Editor recounts Hall of Fame's downfall". Irish Independent. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Rattlebag – Thursday, 20 June 2002". RTÉ. 20 June 2002. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Richie (18 January 2008). "Cream of Irish music in tribute to Dubliner as he battles with cancer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Sony Ericsson Raw Sessions: catch it this weekend". Hot Press. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  7. ↑ "Questions And Answers – Monday, 20 June 2005". RTÉ. 20 June 2005. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Five Seven Live – Thursday, 15 April 2004". RTÉ. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  9. ↑ "This Week – Sunday, 24 April 2005". RTÉ. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 26 April 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  10. ↑ "Morning Ireland – Tuesday, 28 June 2005". RTÉ. 28 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "Drivetime with Dave – Tuesday, 21 November 2006". RTÉ. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  12. ↑ "Hot Press in court over Hall of Fame". RTÉ. 9 September 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  13. ↑ "Hot Press Wins Editor of the Year". Hot Press. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  14. ↑ "Guest presenters join Meteors line-up". Hot Press. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  15. ↑ "The Script and Sharon Shannon bag Meteors". Hot Press. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  16. ↑ "Niall Stokes gets Lifetime Achievement Award". The Sunday Business Post. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  17. ↑ "Award for Hot Press founder". The Sunday Business Post. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
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