Mullingar students Win People’s Choice Award at national film competition

Students from Loreto College Mullingar have won the People’s Choice Award at the national final of Trócaire’s The Right Focus 2026 documentary competition, held today at the Light House Cinema in Dublin.

The documentary, How AI Affects our Environment, by Linda Golube and Mya O’Reilly was selected by fellow finalists during the event and recognised for its compelling exploration of the environmental impact of artificial intelligence and its connection to the climate crisis.

Fellow Loreto students, Kayla McHugh and Lucy Creevy were also shortlisted for their documentary 'Wake Up' - How our planet is suffering and what we can do.

The award celebrates the creativity, research and storytelling skills of the students, who examined how rapidly growing technologies can contribute to global environmental challenges.

The all-island competition brings together post-primary students from across Ireland to create documentaries focused on global justice issues, encouraging young people to critically engage with the world around them through filmmaking.

Now in its sixth year and supported by Irish Aid, The Right Focus invites post-primary students from across Ireland to explore global justice issues through documentary filmmaking.

More than 70 students, teachers and guests attended this year’s final, where 10 shortlisted documentaries were screened, exploring issues such as climate change, ethical consumption, biodiversity, artificial intelligence and global health inequalities.

Head of Outreach at Trócaire, Karen Casey, said:

“These films show that young people are not only aware of global challenges, but they are also actively engaging with them in thoughtful and creative ways. The Right Focus gives them a platform to be heard and to inspire others to take action.”

This year’s documentaries offered a compelling and diverse programme, with students addressing topics such as climate change, biodiversity, ethical consumption, artificial intelligence and global health inequalities.

The Right Focus continues to grow as a key platform for young people across Ireland to engage critically with global issues while developing skills in storytelling, research and digital media.

To find out more or get involved in next year’s competition, visit: trocaire.org/our-work/educate/the-right-focus.