THE Southern Star has received a total of nine nominations for awards at the upcoming Local Ireland Media Awards, across a variety of categories and departments.
The hotly-contested accolades showcase excellence in journalism and the achievements of Ireland’s local news publishers and their staff.
The Southern Star's nominations
Best Supplement: Taking Over Paris
Political Coverage of the Year: The Southern Star's local and general election coverage
Best Headline: Mná-some
Best Use of Digital: Southern Star Olympics coverage
Best Innovation: Southern Star Use of QR codes
Best Innovation: Southern Star Email newsletters
This year’s awards will be sponsored for the eight consecutive year by the National Lottery.
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 10th year and the headline sponsors the National Lottery is on board for the eighth time. This year’s awards have also received support from Coimisiún na Meán.
President of Local Ireland and managing director of the Southern Star, Seán Mahon, said: 'This year’s Local Ireland Media Awards have seen record entries again from talented journalists, digital and commercial local newspaper personnel across Ireland, which just goes to show how people in our industry view the prestige associated with winning a category.
'I don’t envy the 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 the awards. Working together is a great fit because both the National Lottery and all our local newspaper members are passionate about supporting local communities.'
Winners of the awards will be announced at an event in the Mullingar Park Hotel on September 11.
Host for the evening will be RTÉ and Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan.
Full list of nominations:
Columnist of the Year
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
Feature Journalist of the Year
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
Best Photograph
Gerry Shanahan Meath Chronicle Ben Hurl
John Kelly Clare Champion Storm Ashley
Ray Ryan Tuam Herald Raising the bar
Alex Coleman The Anglo-Celt A new adventure begins
Best Use of Photography
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
Young Journalist of the Year
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?
Best Supplement
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 News Series
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’
Sports Journalist of the Year
Anthony Bravender Dundalk Democrat
Owen Ryan Clare Champion
Ryan Ferry Donegal News
Ian Cooney Roscommon Herald
Political Coverage of the Year
Limerick Leader
The Clare Champion
The Anglo-Celt
The Southern Star
Best Sustainability Journalist
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
Best Local Advertisement
Meath Chronicle John Lynch Carpets
Munster Express Garden Morris Estate
Connacht Tribune Galway Bay Resort
Westmeath Independent Petstop Opening PAWTY
Best Advertising Campaign
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
Best News Story
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’?
Best Use of Digital
Southern Star Olympics coverage
Offaly Live Cherish the Moment
Limerick Leader Local elections coverage
Nenagh Guardian Anna Powell videos
Best Innovation
Southern Star Use of QR codes
Lives Remembered Meath Chronicle
Southern Star Email newsletters
Connaught Telegraph Business Supplements Series
Best Diversity Journalist
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?
National Lottery Community Journalist of the Year
Linda Spillane Miles for Mimi Munster Express
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
Best Headline
Southern Star Mná-some
Laois Nationalist Stanley Knifed
Connacht Tribune Gaillimh Ogbú!
Tipperary Star Bullet of a shot
Best Front Page
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
