The winners of the ‘Let's Talk About Drugs’ National Media Awards 2013 were announced at a ceremony in the Ashling Hotel in Dublin on 23 September.
Presenting the awards, Minister of State Alex White TD said:
| Targeting young people with prevention in mind is one of the most important things we can do and that’s why I’m delighted to be involved in the ‘Let’s Talk About Drugs’ National Media Awards ceremony today. It’s great to see drugs and alcohol issues being debated in such a creative way and I am particularly pleased that the winning poster will inspire the forthcoming Dial to Stop Drug Dealing campaign. |
Organised by the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs (GBRD), the awards were created to encourage the journalists, reporters, film enthusiasts and animators of tomorrow to start writing and talking about the drugs and alcohol issue in Ireland today. The competition is supported by Drugs.ie, the HSE, The Department of Health, Crimestoppers and the Irish Examiner. Now in its seventh year, the competition attracted a record number of entries from schools, colleges and youth groups all over the country, with over 270 submissions received.
The themes for the 2013 competition were:
Alcohol and sport – who is the real winner?; and
Weed and health – are we making a hash of it?
The judging panel included John O’Mahony (Irish Examiner), Henry McKean (Newstalk 106–108fm) and Caroline Twohig (TV3). They were joined by Jack Gleeson from the Dublin People Group, Andy Osborn from Drugs.ie, Marion Rackard from the HSE and Marie McBride from the Department of Health.
In all, 32 prizes were presented at the awards ceremony All category winners will have their features either published or broadcast in the media.The winners in each category are listed below. You can see a selection of the winning entries at: www.drugs.ie/resources/awards/
Phillip Keegan of GBRD with Robert Gaynor (13) who won the overall prize
Overall National Media Awards 2013 winner
'What would you do?' by Robert Gaynor, Strandhill, Co Sligo
Film/Animation winners
12–14 years
Winner: Robert Gaynor, Strandhill, Co Sligo
Runner-up: Youth Advocate Programme, Blackpool, Co Cork
15–17 years
Winner: Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co Tipperary
Runner-up: Sphere 17 Regional Youth Service, Darndale, Dublin
18–20 years
Winners: Jessica Drew & Aoife Magee, Drogheda Grammar School
Runners-up: Rachel Quinn, Donal Martin & Una Curran, Dublin City University
21+ years
Winner: Ana Caceres, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Runner-up: St Dominic's Community Response, Tallaght
Newspaper article winners
12–14 years: Darragh Elbel, Killarney, Co Kerry
15–17 years: Alice Kearns, Dalkey, Co Dublin
18–20 years: Aaron Elbel, Killarney, Co Kerry
21+ years: Clare O'Beara, Raheny, Dublin 5
Audio winners
12–14 years: Sean Downey, Midleton, Co Cork
15–17 years: Michael Dwyer, Gorey, Co Wexford
21+ years: Denise Woods, Mountshannon, Co Clare
Runner up: Gerard Click, Lotts Lane, Dublin 1
Poster winners
Winner: Edge YDP, Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary
Runners up: Alyzza Marie Rodriguez, Crumlin, Dublin 12, & Vaida Balbieruite, Terenure,Dublin 6W
Cartoon winners
15–17 years
Winner: Lauren Vickers, Wicklow Town
Runner Up: Aislinn Fox, Birr, Co Offaly
18–20 years
Winner: Catherine Noonan, York Hill, Cork
Runner-Up: Jamie Barnes, Celbridge, Co Kildare
GBRD Spirit award
Joint winners: Scoil An Chroí Ró Naofa Íosa, Huntstown, & St Ciaran’s NS, Hartstown, both in Dublin 15.
