Triple crown for Tribune at Media Awards

The Connacht Tribune proved a winner on all fronts at last week’s Local Ireland/National Lottery Media Awards, taking the prizes for Best Designed Newspaper, Best Digital Content and Best Use of Photography – the most awards won by any newspaper on the night.

In all, there were 13 awards handed out, with the Tribune leading the way, followed by the Limerick Leader with two and one each for the Leinster Express, Westmeath Examiner, Mayo News, Clonmel Nationalist, Wexford People, Westmeath Independent, Southern Star and the Carlow Nationalist.

There was also a poignant moment when the Lifetime Achievement Award to Neill O’Neill, managing editor of the Mayo News up to his untimely death at the age of just 36 last October.

The competition, sponsored by the National Lottery and organised by Local Ireland – the umbrella body for all of Ireland’s regional newspapers – drew hundreds of entries, with three shortlisted in each category on the night.

The Connacht Tribune’s Dara Bradley was shortlisted for his story on the future of the Salmon Weir Bridge.

“We were absolutely thrilled and delighted to receive each of these accolades on the night,” said Connacht Tribune editor Dave O’Connell.

“To win the Best Designed Newspaper prize is the ultimate for any paper because it is an acknowledgement of the time and work that goes into making the Tribune as attractive and accessible as possible for the readers. Winning for Best Use of Photography only underlines that.

“And to win for Best Digital Content sealed a great night, because this too was a vindication of the work that goes into ctrib2019.wpengine.com – both in terms of the website itself and its easily accessible lay-out, but also the effort that goes into our social media presence on every front,” he added.

Connacht Tribune chairman Peter Allen congratulated the staff on their success.

“This is a wonderful tribute to the dedication of all involved in the Connacht Tribune, who work tirelessly every week to produce the best newspaper possible,” he said.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.