Left, Rebekah O'Reilly, with her finalist citation, and right, Tadhg Carey, editor, who represented the paper for its entry in the Best Front Page category.

Westmeath Independent among finalists at Local Ireland Media Awards

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The Westmeath Independent was a finalist in two categories at the 2026 Local Ireland Media Awards held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday last.

Reporter Rebekah O’Reilly was among the finalists in the Best Diversity Journalism category for her work across a number of articles, while the Westmeath Independent, represented by editor Tadhg Carey, was shortlisted in the Best Front Page category, with an entry entitled ‘Double Vision’, focusing on the league and cup double of Athlone Town’s women’s team last season.

There were 19 competitive categories that attracted more than 700 entries, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune.

Celtic Media, owners of the Westmeath Independent, triumphed in eight categories, including the Best News Story by Ballymore native Eilís Ryan, published in the Westmeath Examiner which told the story of a family's trauma family after a loved one died.

The article was headlined ‘Toni Marie’s legacy: mother’s fight for garda reforms to help bereaved families’.

The event, which is in its 11th year was sponsored by the National Lottery and also supported by Coimisiún na Meán,

The awards included a video address by the Taoiseach who recognised the vital role that local newspapers and their digital and social channels play in reporting and supporting communities.

President of Local Ireland and Managing Director of the Southern Star, Seán Mahon, said: “This year's Local Ireland Media Awards were another resounding success!

“It was great to see both experienced and young journalists, as well as talented digital and advertising personnel, winning awards for the excellent work they do for their respective local newspapers.

“Ultimately, the key message that 'life is local' came through again and again at the event and reinforced how vitally important the role of local newspapers is in connecting, informing and supporting local communities across Ireland.”

As well as sponsoring the event, the National Lottery had its own special award for Community Journalist of the Year.

CEO of the National Lottery Cian Murphy said: “We are proud of our partnership with the Local Ireland Media Awards and celebrate the storytellers who help showcase the people and communities making a difference across Ireland.

“The work recognised at this year's awards reflects the strength of local journalism and its enduring role in informing, connecting and strengthening communities nationwide.”

Coimisiún na Meán is supporting local journalism through several schemes, including those for Local Democracy, Courts Reporting, News Reporting, and Digital training and transformation.

Director of Media Development for the Coimisiún Sinéad Crowley said: “Local newspapers play a key role in our communities, delivering trustworthy and high quality journalism on issues that impact the lives of people across Ireland.

“We are proud to support this work through our journalism and news reporting schemes. The standard of entries for these awards is a reflection of the dedication of those working in the sector, with this year's winners offering us a snapshot of the talent and innovation of an industry bringing us stories that matter.

The winners were:

YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: HOSANNA BOULTER, THE CARLOW NATIONALIST

BEST USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY: RAY RYAN, THE TUAM HERALD

BEST USE OF DIGITAL: GEMMA GOOD, THE ANGLO-CELT

BEST INNOVATION: LUNCH AND LEARN, THE WESTERN PEOPLE

BEST SUSTAINABILITY JOURNALIST: KATE RYAN, THE ECHO

BEST SUPPLEMENT: BACK IN THE DAY, THE SOUTHERN STAR

BEST LOCAL ADVERTISEMENT: DROGHEDA CREDIT UNION, THE MEATH CHRONICLE

BEST PHOTOGRAPH: GERARD O’LOUGHLIN, THE ROSCOMMON HERALD

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR: SARAH CLANCY, THE CLARE CHAMPION

BEST NEWS SERIES: SEAMUS ENRIGHT, THE ANGLO-CELT

POLITICAL COVERAGE OF THE YEAR: DONAL O’KEEFFE, THE ECHO

SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: ANTHONY HENNIGAN, THE WESTERN PEOPLE

BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN: SCALLYS OF CLONAKILTY, THE SOUTHERN STAR

BEST DIVERSITY JOURNALISM: GEMMA GOOD, THE ANGLO-CELT

FEATURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: SHANNON SWEENEY, THE WATERFORD NEWS AND STAR

BEST HEADLINE: HAP HAZARD, THE MEATH CHRONICLE

BEST FRONT PAGE: AND SO IT BEGINS, THE TUAM HERALD

NATIONAL LOTTERY BEST COMMUNITY STORY: RÓISE COLLINS, THE DONEGAL NEWS

BEST NEWS STORY: EILÍS RYAN, THE WESTMEATH EXAMINER

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: DECLAN MCGUIRE, THE CONNACHT TRIBUNE

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