{{Short description|Irish radio producer (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Keith Cunningham''' or "K.C." (born {{birth based on age as of date |29|2007|11|29|noage=1}})<ref name="mayonews2007">{{cite web | url = https://www.mayonews.ie/7-the-interview/2830-south-of-the-border | website = mayonews.ie | title = South of the border | date = 21 November 2007 | access-date = 2 November 2021 | archive-date = 2 November 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211102234207/https://www.mayonews.ie/7-the-interview/2830-south-of-the-border | url-status = dead }}</ref> is an Irish radio presenter, producer and radio programmer.
After spending a number of years with Today FM in Dublin, and commuting each week, he left the station to return home to his family in Cork. After spending some time at Cork's Red FM, as of late 2021, Cunningham was presenter of "KC & Ross in the Morning" (previously "The KC Show" from 2017-2019) on Cork's 96FM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.96fm.ie/on-air/kc-and-ross-in-the-morning/ |title=Schedule - KC & Ross in the Morning |website=96fm.ie |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20211102233026/https://www.96fm.ie/on-air/kc-and-ross-in-the-morning/ |archivedate=2 November 2021 |access-date=2 November 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2024, Cunningham was working with Today FM.<ref name="pr2024">{{cite press release | url = https://bauermedia.ie/2024/01/new-stars-join-today-fm-weekend-line-up/| website = bauermedia.ie | title = New Stars Join Today FM Weekend Line-up | date = 8 January 2024}}</ref>
==Early career== Originally from Breaffy near Castlebar in County Mayo,<ref name="mayonews2007"/> Cunningham started his radio career with pirate station Kiss FM in the early 1990s.<ref name="ent2012">{{cite web|url = https://entertainment.ie/trending/kc-lands-ray-foleys-today-fm-afternoon-slot-371360/ | website = entertainment.ie | title = KC lands Ray Foley's TODAY FM afternoon slot! | date = 23 October 2012 | access-date = 2 November 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20262679.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | title = RedFM's Keith Cunningham on pirate radio and family values | date = 23 March 2014 | access-date = 2 November 2021 }}</ref> After studying in Dublin, he returned to County Mayo to launch the pirate station, Power FM.<ref name="ent2012"/>
Following roles with local radio stations MWR FM and Galway Bay FM,{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} he joined Dublin's FM 104 in 2000.<ref name="ent2012"/> He remained at FM 104 until he transferred to the newly opened Cork's RedFM.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}
==Later career== Cunningham started at Cork's Red FM in 2002, presenting a late-night dance music show.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30620595.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | website = irishexaminer.com | title = KC leaving national radio to return to Cork's RedFM | date= 23 January 2014 |access-date = 2 November 2021 | quote = }}</ref> In 2004, he moved to Red Drive from 5-7 pm weekdays and continued to present dance show formats.{{fact|date=February 2026}}
In 2005, Cunningham took over ''The Red Rooster Breakfast Show'' on Red FM, initially presenting the show on his own. He later teamed up with co-host Mark Linehan ("Lenny from Blarney"). From 2007 until the end of the show in 2010, the show won several PPI radio awards, including "best breakfast show" in Ireland for 2008 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.redfm.ie/presenters/redrooster.asp | title = Red Rooster | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091218103537/http://www.redfm.ie/presenters/redrooster.asp |archivedate=18 December 2009 | website = redfm.ie}}</ref> Cunningham also won "best regional DJ" at the 2008 Meteor Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.meteor.ie/about/music_awards/mima_winners/ | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201113547/http://www.meteor.ie/about/music_awards/mima_winners/ | archivedate = 1 February 2009 | website = meteor.ie | title = Meteor Ireland Music Awards Past Winners - 2008 Meteor Ireland Music Awards }}</ref>
After working with Today FM in Dublin from 2010 to 2014,<ref name="de2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyedge.ie/kc-leaves-today-fm-1278570-Jan2014/|title=KC leaves Today FM lunchtime show for 'family reasons' | publisher = The Daily Edge|website=Dailyedge.ie| date = 23 January 2014 | access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> Cunningham returned to Cork's Red FM as part of an overhaul of the radio station.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/prendeville-drives-shift-to-red-fm-in-cork-1.2211261 | publisher = Irish Times | website = irishtimes.com | title = Prendeville drives shift to Red FM in Cork | date = 14 May 2015 | access-date = 2 November 2021 | quote = The move follows a "substantial investment" in the relaunch of the [Red FM] station last year [2014..] The station also hired Keith Cunningham, aka KC, back from Today FM }}</ref> From 2014 he presented The KC Show alongside Jason Coughlan on that station.<ref name="de2014"/>
Cunningham later left Red FM and moved to 96 FM,<ref name="examiner780944">{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/celebrity/arid-30780944.html|title=KC to present new breakfast show on Cork's 96fm|date=9 March 2017|newspaper=Irish Examiner|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> and presented The KC Show (later "KC & Ross in the Morning") from 2017 to 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41161699.html|newspaper=Irish Examiner| title = Cork's 96fm breakfast host KC to return to Red FM | date = 13 June 2023 }}</ref> Cork's Red FM announced that he was returning to the station in June 2023.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://bauermedia.ie/2023/06/kc-comes-home-to-red/ | website = bauermedia.ie | title = Kc Comes Home To Red! | date = 14 June 2025}}</ref> He rejoined Today FM in early 2024.<ref name="pr2024"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Keith}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Irish radio producers Category:People from Castlebar Category:Broadcasters from County Mayo Category:Today FM presenters