NewsBrands awards honour young journalists

Young journalists of the future have been honoured at the NewsBrands Press Pass Awards.

In 2016, 8,000 transition year students took part in the initiative - created as part of the Newspapers in Education programme - and 16 were honoured for their original journalism at the Convention Centre on Friday.

Launched five years ago, Press Pass works to help improve literacy and critical thinking skills, while encouraging young people to analyse the society they live in.

Minister for State Finian McGrath presented students with their awards. He said: “Newspapers have a vital role to play in any free society. They are watchdogs, chroniclers and the eyes and ears that go where most can not be.

"When young people engage with society, that society benefits enormously from their input and their energy. I am delighted that 70,000 transition year students have had the opportunity to study newspapers in their classrooms through the Press Pass programme.”

NewsBrands Ireland chairman, Vincent Crowley, said: "We are consistently impressed by the standard of work that the young people of this country produce. This year is no exception. It bodes well for the future of journalism in this country and for Ireland more generally."

Participating schools were sent complimentary newspapers and a specially created workbook. Students were then encouraged to engage with the newspapers in the classroom, to analyse them and then create their own original journalism. The best pieces of writing were then entered into the national competition.

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Prof John Horgan with Tomás Ó hUallacháin and and Vincent Crowley, Pic: Fennells[/image]

The winners were selected by a panel of newspaper editors and journalists, chaired by Professor John Horgan, the former Press Ombudsman. For more details seepresspass.ie.

The overall winner was Tomás Ó hUallacháin, who attends Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean, Co Kerry, while trophies were also awarded in five other categories - Features, Opinion, News, Sport and Photojournalism.

Overall winner

Tomás Ó hUallacháin (Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean)

Features

1st - Caitríona Ní Chonaill (Coláiste Ghobnatan, Baile Mhic Ire)

2nd - Mark O’Donnell (St Columbas Comprehensive, Glenties)

3rd - Natasha Holmes (Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel)

Opinion

1st - Síofra O’Dwyer (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana)

2nd - Aoife Foley (St Mary's Secondary School, Macroom)

3rd - Ciara Tomlinson (Jesus and Mary College, Goatstown)

News

1st - Kate Ní Dhubháin (Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean)

2nd - Ciara Ní Bhruic (Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, An Daingean)

3rd - Niamh O’Dowd (FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody)

Sport

1st - Emma McGoey (Mean Scoil Mhuire, Longford)

2nd - Sorcha Nic an tSionnaigh (Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, Limerick)

3rd - Colm Breslin (Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal)

Photojournalism

1st - Jack Farrell (Causeway Comprehensive School)

2nd - Carley Mannion (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway)

3rd - Clodagh O’Leary (FCJ Secondary School, Bunclody)

Here is the article that secured talented Tomás Ó hUallacháin the overall prize:

Ard Fhear! A Neighbour’s Inspiration

Two elderly customers prop the counter, their eyes fixated on their settling pints. Applying the crème de resistance is Tomás Mac a tSaorsigh. Saddle sore, Tomás hands the men their pint of plain. ‘Anois a bhuachaillí’ exclaims Tomás in his native tongue. The young cyclist, after his 3,053 mile exertion, is at his ease manning the bar of his father’s premises in the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht.

Inspired that a 22 year old neighbour could accomplish such an achievement, I have Tomás join me in the snug once his only afternoon customers are, like their pints, settled.

I asked what made him cycle alone from San Diego to Florida’s St. Augustine. ‘’When 16 year old Kerry teenager Donal Walsh tragically passed from cancer in 2013, a charity in his name was established. I felt the best way to turn a hobby into an awareness mission was to cycle across the U.S to help raise funds for the Donal’s Live Life Foundation.

For 42 days Tomás battled headwinds and punishing terrain on his epic journey, punctuated by only 7 days recovery.

Departing on October 24th it wasn’t until December 11th that he free wheeled to his finish line having seen California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Tired imagining it, I asked had he any downtime whatsoever.

‘’In Austin I took three days off and had a badly needed night on the beer.’’

As someone who’d get lost in a shopping mall, my admiration for his effort soared. Curious, I asked how he managed those infinite, tumbleweed accompanied US roads.

"Leaving Ireland I was sceptical, scared about cycling a different country. Yet I’ve met incredible people on the way.’’

His inventory was limited. A bike bought in San Diego, sunscreen, two panniers, two pairs of bib shorts and an Irish team gilet. Two Donal Walsh cycling jerseys, three pairs of socks, runners and a light jacket.

Cycling shoes, gloves, some casuals and a tub of chamois cream completed the list.

Headwinds were a low point. ‘Thinking I’d have a westerly wind at my back I cycled from west to east. If anyone wants to cycle across America go east to west. The wind will be more generous!’’

I asked Tomás about social interaction ‘en-route’.

"I experienced great warmth and generosity,’’ he said. ‘Familiar with Americans from our family pub, I know they’re great people.’

"I was offered food, accommodation and was treated like a king. The American people have been absolutely incredible to me.’’

He called his experience ‘priceless,’ learning much of the diverse U.S. cultures and landscapes, and significantly raising €3907 for the Foundation. For a young man who found cycling after his father banished him from the Playstation, Tomás is an inspiration to us all.

As the old men beckoned our heroic peddler to pull another two pints, a line from their overheard conversation summed up my admiration

"He’s a better man than any of us."