Students win top prizes at national Press Pass awards
THERE is no doubt that literary excellence continues to thrive in West Kerry as students from the Pobalscoil took the overall prize and first and second place in the news category of the PressPass awards at an event in Dublin last Friday.
In what was a massive coup for the school, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne’s Tomás Ó hUallacháin’s entry ‘Ard Fhear! A Neighbour’s Inspiration’ won the overall award, first place in the news category was awarded to Kate Ní Dhubáain for her story about the N86, while Ciara Ní Bhruic’s story on the ASTI took second place in the same category.
There were 16 prize winners from the 8,000 entries for the competition, which aims to improve literacy and critical thinking in students by developing their understanding of news stories and creating original journalistic content. The winners were selected by a panel of newspaper editors and journalists.
In his speech leading up to the announcement of the overall winner, former Press Ombudsman and chairperson of the judging panel Prof John Horgan said: “In an era of ‘alternative facts’ the responsibilities of journalists are always increasing. But it is also important to recognize that the real skill of the journalist does not reside just in the facts, but the narrative in which he or she embeds them.”
Tomas Ó hUallacháin’s winning entry, which tells the story of his neighbour Tómás Mac an tSaoir’s epic cycle across America to raise funds for the Donal Walsh Foundation, was praised by the Chairman of the panel of judges as, “a conclusion which ties up the events of the narrative in a way many professional journalists would salute”.
This excerpt from Tomás’s article illustrates the point made by the judges...
“He called his experience “priceless’, learning much of the diverse U.S. cultures and landscapes, and significantly raising €3,907 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’. ”
PCD Principal Padraig Feirtéar gave credit to the work of the students and the dedication of their teachers, Bean Uí Chiardhubháin and Máistir Ó Dálaigh.
Sixteen awards were handed out in five categories: features, opinion, news, sport and photo journalism – which was won by another Kerry student, Jack Farrell of Causeway Comprehensive School.
For the students of Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne it was an outstanding success and it leaves little doubt that the literary tradition of West Kerry is in safe hands for another generation.
Meanwhile, after a day of competition, in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, an entry entitled ‘Nuair a bhí mé Óg’ by four of the school’s students was among was one of two enteries chosen to contest the National Final of the Údarás na Gaeltachta – Clár na gComhlachtaí this week.
‘Nuair a bhí mé Óg’ ( When I Was Young) is a compilation of stories from senior citizens describing life in West Kerry in time past. Topics include, the war, schooldays, past-times and many more. The aim of the project was to listen to the people and document their memories.
Clár na gComhlachta is a business learning experience developed and delivered in partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland and taught by business volunteers through the Irish language to secondary school students in Gaeltacht areas. Final results will be announced today ( Wednesday).