LOCAL IRELAND MEDIA AWARDS ANNOUNCED

Winners in the Local Ireland Media Awards were announced at a gala event at the Mullingar Park Hotel. View table of Winners here.

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.

President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan said: “This was our ninth awards and the seventh sponsored by the National Lottery.

“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.”
Chair 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.

Pictures from event can be viewed here.