Article by Eilís Ryan shortlisted for Local Ireland Media Awards
A Westmeath Examiner article by Eilís Ryan dealing with the trauma for the family after a loved one has died has been shortlisted for this year’s Local Ireland Media Awards.
The article was headlined ‘Toni Marie’s legacy: mother’s fight for garda reforms to help bereaved families’ and it was the front page lead story in the edition dated August 23, 2025.
Congratulations to Eilís, who won ‘Feature Journalist of the Year’ in 2023 for her articles on ageing farmers.
This is the 11th year of the awards and the ninth to be sponsored by the National Lottery. The awards are also supported by the media commission, Coimisiún na Meán.
There were 727 entries in 19 competitive categories this year.
President of Local Ireland and managing director of the Southern Star Seán Mahon said: “It’s great to see these awards continuing to thrive.
“The evidence is clear – this year saw the highest number of entries we’ve ever received across all the different categories.
“However, they all share one thing in common, the vital role we have in serving local communities by communicating the news that matters to our readers’ lives.
“Thank you to everyone who entered and good luck to those nominated as finalists.”
The awards include a Lifetime Achievement award that is presented on behalf of the Local Ireland committee and there is also a Best Community Story award, selected by a panel from the National Lottery.
National Lottery head of Corporate Affairs Jennifer Crowe said: “This year’s shortlist for the National Lottery Best Community Story reflects the strength and spirit of communities across Ireland.
“Through the lens of local journalism, we see people coming together, supporting one another, and making a real difference in the lives of those around them.
“Local journalism plays a vital role in helping to uncover these stories and ensure the people behind them are recognised. It’s an honour to help celebrate their impact.”
Chair of the judging panel Dawn Wheatley of Dublin City University School of Communications said the quality of entries this year was exceptional. “Our judging panel had a genuinely difficult task narrowing down the shortlist, and several categories were more competitive than ever.
“It’s a real credit to the reporters, photographers, editors, production and commercial staff involved that standards continue to rise year on year. These entries are proof that trusted, on-the-ground journalism still matters enormously to the communities it serves, holding power to account, telling the stories that matter, and giving an essential voice to their readers.”
The judging panel also includes RTÉ presenter and journalist Katie Hannon, managing editor of journal.ie Susan Daly, RTÉ presenter and journalist Sarah McInerney, Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley, photographer and former Irish Times picture editor Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, journalist and author PJ Cunningham, novelist and newspaper columnist Dr Martina Devlin, DCU lecturer and former journalist Conor Tiernan, policy Eeditor of the Business Post Daniel Murray, deputy night editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy, and managing director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair.
The award winners will be announced at an event at the Mullingar Park Hotel on September 17, when the host will be RTÉ Lyric Fm presenter Marty Whelan.
Local Ireland
Local Ireland is the promotional brand of the Regional Newspaper and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI) and represents local newspaper publishers throughout the island of Ireland.
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SHORTLIST
Young Journalist of the Year
Darragh Murphy The Waterford News and Star
Amy Campbell The Echo
Hosanna Boulter The Carlow Nationalist
Gemma Good The Anglo-Celt
Best Use of Photography
From Homelessness to Hope The Kildare Nationalist, Photo James Mahon
Uprooted The Tuam Herald, Photo Ray Ryan
Déise Abú The Waterford News and Star, Photo Noel Browne
Lord Henry Mountcharles The Meath Chronicle, Photos Davy Mullen
Best Use of Digital
The Nenagh Guardian Short Form Local, Videos Anna Powell
The Waterford News and Star Scenes from the Déise, Videos Yuliia Sidorova
The Southern Star Digital Recruitment Advertising
The Anglo-Celt Money Mules, Video Gemma Good
Best Innovation
The Roscommon Herald London Calling
The Southern Star Gift Subscriptions
The Western People Lunch and Learn
The Carlow Nationalist The Third Degree
Best Sustainability Journalist
Kate Ryan The Echo
Dan Danaher The Clare Champion
Christina McHugh The Roscommon Herald
Mark Godfrey The Western People
Best Supplement
The Tuam Herald Women Who Dared 5
The Southern Star Things to See and Do in West Cork
The Clare Champion and the Connacht Tribune Where West
The Southern Star Back In The Day
Best Local Advertisement
The Connaught Telegraph The Best Coaches in Rugby
The Southern Star Fields of Skibbereen
The Meath Chronicle Drogheda Credit Union
Best Photograph
Jumping for Joy Gerard O’Loughlin The Roscommon Herald
12 Dips of December Lorraine Teevan The Anglo-Celt
Left Holding the Baby John Kelly The Clare Champion
You Can Do It! Gerard O’Loughlin The Roscommon Herald
Columnist of the Year
Have Decades of Hands-Off Politics Hollowed Out Government Eddie Punch The Clare Champion
Here’s to Being Soberish Paul Hopkins The Meath Chronicle
Fresh Take Sabina Sweeney The Donegal News
Sailing for a Glimpse of What a New World Could Look Like Sarah Clancy The Clare Champion
Best News Series
One Foot in the Rave Seamus Enright The Anglo-Celt
Pathologists Libby Marchant Waterford News and Star
Mussel Farm Kieran O’Mahony The Southern Star
Devastation Richard Canny The Roscommon Herald
Political Coverage of the Year
The Echo Donal O’Keeffe
Meath Chronicle News Team
Connaught Telegraph Caoimhín Rowland
Southern Star Kieran O’Mahony
Sports Journalist of the Year
Kieran Murphy The Carlow Nationalist
Anthony Hennigan The Western People
Ian Cooney The Roscommon Herald
Jordan Norris The Waterford News and Star
Best Advertising Campaign
The Connaught Telegraph Roll With It This Summer
The Southern Star Scally’s Supervalu
The Western People Mount Falcon
The Meath Chronicle Versatile
Best Diversity Journalism
Andrew Hamilton The Clare Champion
Rebekah O’Neill The Westmeath Independent
Gemma Good The Anglo-Celt
Neha Kumari The Tuam Herald
Feature Journalist of the Year
Aaron Kent The Munster Express
Andrew Hamilton The Clare Champion
Shannon Sweeney The Waterford News and Star
Edwin McGreal The Western People
Best Headline
The Anglo-Celt One Foot in the Rave
The Southern Star Don’t Mussel in on our Bay
The Meath Chronicle HAP Hazard
The Southern Star Grave Mistake
Best Front Page
Gutted The Donegal News
Uprooted The Tuam Herald
Double Vision The Westmeath Independent
And So It Begins The Tuam Herald
National Lottery Best Community Story
Tallow Men’s Shed Is a Haven of Positivity and Social Engagement Brendan Keane The Waterford News and Star
How a daily dip has changed the lives of swimming friends Róise Collins The Donegal News
Fiona helping homeless people to ‘face the world’ Jessica Quinn The Clare Champion
Over €10k raised for ‘local legend’ in battle against MND Robyn Power The Munster Express
Best News Story
Toni’s Legacy Eilís Ryan The Westmeath Examiner
Autism Centre Delayed Kieran O’Mahony The Southern Star
Tommy Reilly Ann Casey The Meath Chronicle
Cavan Ambulance Service Stretched Zoe Tunney The Anglo-Celt