Celebrating the best of local media
The Nenagh Guardian claimed one of the prestigious categories at the Local Ireland Media Awards at a gala event at the Mullingar Park Hotel last Thursday.
Nineteen awards were made in total, including a Lifetime Achievement award for Kieran Walsh of the Munster Express, whose family have been associated with the Waterford-based newspaper for more than 130 years.
The Nenagh Guardian jointly won the top award in the Best Front Page category, along with fellow Premier County title, the Tipperary Star.
The Guardian front page from January 7, 2023, featured the horrific news story of a savage sheep kill on a farm in Redwood, Lorrha, that left a farmer facing a huge financial loss. The story was compiled by Lorrha freelance contributor, Rose Mannion, who also took the graphic photo that accompanied the article.
Nenagh Guardian Editor, Garry Cotter, was delighted the newspaper was a winner following up on the success it enjoyed some years back for an award-winning advertising supplement. He said: “The award reflects the wonderful contribution all the team play in producing a weekly issue of the Guardian. Special mention to Rose, who covered the horrific tale so well and our pre-press partner, Celtic Media, who designed the front page.
“We’re one of the few family-run titles left in the country and it’s great to see we can punch above our weight and compete with newspapers that are owned by large media groups.”
This was the ninth awards ceremony and the seventh sponsored by the National Lottery.
HIGH STANDARD
President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals, Dan Linehan, said: “It was a great event and I want to thank the judges for all their work and the National Lottery for their support, which has been invaluable. We had nearly 600 entries and the standard of journalism was first class.”
CEO of the National Lottery, Cian Murphy, said: “We are delighted to once again sponsor the Local Ireland Media Awards, celebrating the exceptional work of local journalists and regional newspapers across the country.
“Their dedication to informing and connecting our communities mirrors the National Lottery's commitment to supporting Good Causes, making a positive difference in the lives of people throughout Ireland.”
Chairperson of the Judges, author, journalist and broadcaster, Alison O’Connor, said: “Where would local communities be without the efforts made in newsrooms all over the country?
“It is not an easy task to pick winners when there is so much good work to choose from. These awards are about recognising the very best of what local newspapers do.”
The event was hosted by RTÉ presenter and renowned Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan.
Executive Director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes said: “This year’s awards were the biggest yet with new categories for Diversity, Sustainability and Best Headline. We are hoping to introduce even more categories next year.”
Joining Alison O’Connor on the judging panel were journalist and broadcaster 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 and Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy.