Roscommon Herald receives two nominations for upcoming Local Ireland Media Awards
Pictured at the launch of this year's Local Ireland Media Awards were (l-r): President of Local Ireland, Seán Mahon; Media Development Manager for Coimisiún na Meán, Mairéad Nic Gabhann; Judges’ Chair, Alison O’Connor, and National Lottery Head of Corporate Affairs, Jennifer Crowe.
The Roscommon Herald has received two nominations for the upcoming Local Ireland Media Awards.
The Herald’s Sports Editor, Ian Cooney, has been nominated for Sports Journalist of the Year, while the Herald has also been nominated in the Best Advertising Campaign category for its advertisement about “The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygenation”.
More than 700 entries were made for this year’s awards which introduced two new categories for Political Coverage of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year.
The awards are now in their tenth year with its headline sponsors the National Lottery on board for the eighth time. This year’s awards have also received support from Coimisiún na Meán.
The awards will take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday, September 11th. Host for the evening will be RTÉ and Lyric FM presenter, Marty Whelan.
President of Local Ireland and Managing Director of the Southern Star, Seán Mahon, said that the number of record entries had been received from talented journalist, digital and commercial local newspaper personnel across Ireland.
“It just goes to show how people in our industry view the prestige associated with winning a category. I don't envy our judges who have a challenging job deciding on the winners due to the high quality of entries.
“I'd also like to thank the National Lottery for their continued support of these awards. Working together is a great fit because both the National Lottery and all our local newspaper members are passionate about supporting local communities,” he said.
The National Lottery has its own special category for Community Journalist of the Year.
“The stories shortlisted for this year’s National Lottery category are a testament to the strength and spirit of communities across Ireland.
“Through the lens of local journalism, we see the heart of our society, people coming together, overcoming challenges, and making a difference. It’s an honour to help recognise these powerful community stories,” remarked Jennifer Crowe, Head of Corporate Affairs for the National Lottery.
Media Development Commissioner Rónán Ó’Domnhaill said that Coimisiún na Meán prioritised the availability of high-quality journalism.
“We are delighted to support the upcoming Local Ireland Media Awards, to recognise the talent and commitment of local newspapers and their work supporting and informing local communities.
“We believe access to good quality and trustworthy news for all citizens is critical for a well-functioning society and so far, our journalism schemes have funded almost €2.2 million to Local Ireland members across the country. Coimisiún na Meán will continue to support the sector with the announcement of further journalism schemes later this year.”
Nineteen categories reflecting the best of journalism, photography, design, digital initiatives and sales creativity are part of the judging process. A special award for Lifetime Achievement is also made on behalf of the members of Local Ireland.
Chair of the judges, author, journalist and broadcaster Alison O’Connor said that the awards highlighted the excellence and diversity of local journalism.
“Picking winners in the different categories is always a challenging task for the judges - from the sharpness of the news stories to the well-crafted features, interviews and columns. All told, the standard shows how well communities around the country are served by their local newspapers,” she said.
Joining Ms O’Connor on the judging panel are broadcaster and journalist Dearbhail McDonald; Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley; Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications; Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair; photographer and former Irish Times Picture Editor Frank Miller; broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox; journalist and author PJ Cunningham; novelist and newspaper columnist Dr Martina Devlin; Policy Editor of the Business Post Daniel Murray; RTÉ journalist and presenter Katie Hannon; Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy, and DCU lecturer Conor Tiernan.
Aílín Quinlan (The Echo): Speeders, louts and litterbugs on our roads
Darren Hassett (The Nationalist (Clonmel): I’m afraid to write this column
Fr Liam Power (Waterford News and Star): Church must reassess formation programmes
Paul Hopkins (The Meath Chronicle): Why we need to talk about growing older
Louise Doyle (Donegal News): Where is the pathway to care?
Owen Ryan (Clare Champion): A tragedy waiting to happen
Seamus Enright (Anglo-Celt): Tainted Kilnacrott heads in a new direction
Maria O’Rourke (The Nationalist (Carlow): Living Over the Shop
Gerry Shanahan (Meath Chronicle): Ben Hurl
John Kelly (Clare Champion): Storm Ashle
Ray Ryan (Tuam Herald): Raising the bar
Alex Coleman (The Anglo-Celt): A new adventure begins
Connaught Telegraph: Lawless and Keogh take Mayo Politics by storm
Mayo News: Thirteenth Sea2Summit in Westport
Meath Chronicle: Star Attraction
The Nationalist (Clonmel): Máirín Reaches New Heights
Darragh Murphy (Waterford News and Star): Have you donated to the house of horrors?
Robert Kindregan (Westmeath Examiner): Bláthnaid Raleigh avoided Mullingar for years
Amy Campbell (The Echo): Anti-social acts on trains
Hannah Cahill (Leinster Express): Why are young people in Laois leaving?
Where West (Connacht Tribune/Clare Champion)
Pride of the Déise (Waterford News and Star)
All Ireland Hurling Champions (Clare Champion)
Taking Over Paris (Southern Star Best)
The Echo (Donal O’Keeffe): Cork City Council ‘failing most vulnerable tenants’
Meath Chronicle (Gavan Becton and Ann Casey): Tara Mines return to work
Clare Champion (Dan Danaher): Country Girl Comes Home
Galway City Tribune (Denise McNamara): Sitting in traffic for ‘four days a year’
Anthony Bravender (Dundalk Democrat)
Owen Ryan (Clare Champion)
Ryan Ferry (Donegal News)
Ian Cooney (Roscommon Herald)
Limerick Leader
The Clare Champion
The Anglo-Celt
The Southern Star
Kate Ryan (The Echo): Food Sustainability in practice
Damien McCarney (Anglo-Celt): Farming sustainability
Dara Bradley (Connacht Tribune): Fish Farm Escape
Sally Harding (Meath Chronicle): Mornington Dunes
Meath Chronicle: John Lynch Carpets
Munster Express: Garden Morris Estate
Connacht Tribune: Galway Bay Resort
Westmeath Independent: Petstop Opening PAWTY
Connacht Tribune: The Lodge at Ashford Castle
The Anglo-Celt: Farnham Estate
Roscommon Herald: The Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygenation
Westmeath Examiner: Expert Mullingar – Step into Spring Savings
Owen Ryan (The Clare Champion): ‘Take those tablets and you will die’
Donal O’Regan (Limerick Leader): Driver ignored mother’s plea to hand himself in after killing man
Louise Doyle (Donegal News): Council spend €25,000 on ‘watching brief”
Darragh Murphy (Waterford News and Star): Have you donated to the house of horrors’?
Southern Star: Olympics coverage
Offaly Live: Cherish the Moment
Limerick Leader: Local elections coverage
Nenagh Guardian: Anna Powell videos
Southern Star: Use of QR codes
Meath Chronicle: Lives Remembered
Southern Star: Email newsletters
Connaught Telegraph: Business Supplements Series
Navjyoti Dalal (Westmeath Independent): Home is Where the Hearth Is
Patrick Flaherty (Tuam Herald): Overcoming adversity to make it in the music world
Elizabeth Garner and Jim Hynes (Connacht Tribune): People power helps to keep Ukrainians in the community
Andrew Hamilton (Clare Champion): Is it safe to be gay in Clare?
Linda Spillane (Munster Express): Miles for Mimi
Sally Harding and Gavan Becton (Meath Chronicle): Monster Tractor Run
Siobhán Holliman (Tuam Herald): Milltown museum a leading light
Sharon Dolan D’Arcy (Clare Champion): Sensory garden in full bloom
Southern Star: Mná-some
Laois Nationalist: Stanley Knifed
Connacht Tribune: Gaillimh Ogbú!
Tipperary Star: Bullet of a shot
Connaught Telegraph: Lawless and Keogh take Mayo politics by storm
Meath Chronicle: Death of a Statesman
Dundalk Democrat: ‘Wee’ are the champions!
Connacht Tribune: Bringing water to an island
