Donegal school wins national young journalism competition

Gairmscoil Chú Uladh has been selected as the overall winner of the Tomorrow’s Journalists Competition 2024.

The competition winners were awarded at a ceremony held in The Connemara Coast Hotel, Galway, on Monday.

The Comórtas Iriseoirí an Lae Amárach (Tomorrow’s Journalists Competition) winners were announced by Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), University of Galway and TG4.

A panel of judges was there to assess entries received and Gairmscoil Chú Uladh was presented with the Young Journalism Competition award. 

There were runners-up from Galway, Mayo Cork and Dublin, among those shortlisted was Coláiste na Coiribe, Coláiste Mhuire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Buttevant, and Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Dublin. 

The competition is aimed at students in post-primary Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools nationwide. On the day, students had the opportunity to visit the University of Galway Campus, where they learned about the opportunities available to study journalism at the University. Additionally, the students visited the TG4 news studio and had the chance to meet the news team and see their work in action.

As part of the competition, students, working in groups of four or five, created a full-length news piece, which was published on a blog platform (e.g., WordPress, Blogger, Weebly, Edublog). TG4 Foghlaim and COGG provided teaching and learning resources titled “Iriseoirí an Lae Amárach” on TG4 Foghlaim, which served as supportive material in the classroom when students were preparing their school entries. Over 40 schools registered to use these teaching resources.

Alan Esslemont

TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, said: “Irish-language journalism is a central cornerstone of TG4’s service, and I commend these students for their efforts in participating in the competition and their interest in Irish-language journalism.”

“This new competition exposes post-primary students in Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools to the profession of journalism and informs them about the importance of high-quality journalism and the opportunities available in the media for Irish speakers,” COGG Chief Executive, Jacqueline Ní Fhearghusa, said.

Aodh Ó Coileáin, Lecturer in Media at the University of Galway, said: “I am delighted that the new competition provided Transition Year students with insight into the role and work of the media and perhaps encouraged some of them to pursue careers in the media.”