The competition for Inclusive Journalism honours pioneering student Joe Drennan
Today marks one year since the tragic passing of Joe Drennan, a talented journalism student in UL, who passed away only two weeks after his 21st birthday.
A man who was determined to give a platform – a voice if you will – to those who needed it most, Joe’s ambition was admirable.
It’s fitting that the Joe Drennan Memorial Competition be established in his honour, with one clear aim, fight the fight that Joe is no longer able to.
The Mountrath, Co Laois native wanted to give a platform to marginalised communities, highlighting their concerns, and be a spark for change. With entries now open to all students in UL, you can fight the Joe Drennan fight.
The focus is on finding an angle or story seldom covered by mainstream media, and winners will be selected by The Irish Times on the basis of impact, originality, news gathering and research, depth of investigations, and quality of writing.
Entrants must write an article between 1,000 and 1,500 words, focussing on marginalised communities, or those who have simply been underreported in the media.
The winner of the competition will receive a trophy from the Drennan family, and their winning article will be published in The Irish Times.
“Joe’s passion to pursue a journalism career that was dedicated to inclusivity is reflected in the stories he had published and those he had planned to write,” said Dr Kathryn Hayes, Course Director, BA in Journalism and Digital Communication. “I am delighted that this award has been established to honour Joe’s legacy, and in particular his commitment to journalism work that spoke for the often-unheard voices.”
Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor of The Irish Times also commented; “What we are looking for in this competition is stories that break new ground on a subject that has not previously been the focus of public attention or has been underreported in the media.
“This competition will honour Joe Drennan’s spirit of curiosity and empathy and I’m sure the entries will challenge stereotypes, and foster a deeper understanding towards marginalised communities, ensuring that their voices will be heard in The Irish Times.”
Speaking previously about the competition, Joe’s mother Marguerite said the Drennan family are extremely proud to know her son will continue to provide inspiration to others.
“We are so grateful to University of Limerick for honouring Joe in this way.
“The writing competition is a wonderful tribute to his memory, he would have been so thrilled. We are so very proud of Joe and what he accomplished in his life; he loved writing and UL.
“It makes us so proud to know that he will continue to be an inspiration for others.”
The competition will run annually, first commencing this Academic Year 2024/25. The closing date for entries is December 13, 2024, and all entries can be emailed to kathryn.hayes@ul.ie