DONEGAL News journalist Louise Doyle has been named Feature Journalist of the Year at the Local Ireland Media Awards.
Louise, who was recently appointed News Editor with the Donegal News, was honoured at a gala awards event at the Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday night.
Her feature – The Good Friday Agreement – 25 Years on for Donegal – drew much praise from the judging panel at the prestigious awards events.
To mark the anniversary in April last year, Louise looked at the historic agreement from a political, policing and business viewpoint.
She spoke to Donegal politician, Pat Doherty, the then vice-president of Sinn Féin who gave a wonderful insight into the negotiations. He told how he was witness to much turmoil on the corridors of Castle Buildings as striking a deal inched ever nearer.
Louise also interviewed retired Garda Inspector Michael Harrisson who said policing in Donegal changed completely after the Good Friday Agreement.
And Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce CEO, Toni Forrester offered her memories of that time, describing it as a new dawn.
Two of Louise’s colleagues in the Donegal News were also nominated for awards at Thursday’s event.
Our Senior Business Development Executive Gary Doherty McClenaghan had his “24 hours in Dublin” advertising initiative shortlisted in the Best Innovation category.
This entry was a promotional campaign for Donegal Airport.
Donegal News Editor Diarmaid Doherty was nominated in the Best Community Journalist category for his article ‘I never got to say goodbye’ – a feature on Letterkenny woman Maureen Shiels who was seriously ill and in a coma when her husband Hugo passed away during Covid.
In all 19 awards were presented at Thursday night’s awards ceremony in Mullingar, including a Lifetime Achievement award for Kieran Walsh of the Munster Express, whose family have been associated with the Waterford-based newspaper for more than 130 years.
President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan said: “This was our ninth awards and the seventh sponsored by the National Lottery.
“It was a great event and I want to thank the judges for all their work and the National Lottery for their support, which has been invaluable.
“We had nearly 600 entries and the standard of journalism was first class.”
Chair of the Judges, author, journalist and broadcaster Alison O’Connor said: “Where would local communities be without the efforts made in newsrooms all over the country?
“It is not an easy task to pick winners when there is so much good work to choose from. These awards are about recognising the very best of what local newspapers do.”
The event was hosted by RTÉ presenter and renowned Eurovision commentator Marty Whelan.
Executive Director of Local Ireland Bob Hughes said: “This year’s awards were the biggest yet with new categories for Diversity, Sustainability and Best Headline. We are hoping to introduce even more categories next year.”
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