Local students scoop youth media awards

STUDENTS from Coláiste Eoin in Finglas were announced as overall winners of this year’s ‘Let’s Talk About Drugs’ National Youth Media Awards last week.

The local youngsters wowed judges with their song, ‘Take Your Mask Off’, which delivers a powerful message about substance abuse.

There was more success for Finglas when it came to the age category winners at the awards with students from New Cross College in Cappagh wining the 15-17 section in Video/Animation for their short film called ‘Alcohol – Not A Great Mixer’.

The annual competition encourages discussion of drug-related issues by inviting young people aged between 12-25 to produce either a short video, audio recording, poster or article relating to drug or alcohol use.

Guest of honour at the awards at the Department of Education was RTE’s Bláthnaid Treacy.

“The media awards supports young people to consider and engage with the topic of drug and alcohol use, in a meaningful and realistic way,” she said.

“We can encourage young people to gain an understanding of issues associated with drug and alcohol use by exploring and discussing these issues with others, including their peers.

By doing this, young people can also learn to make more informed decisions about their own drug and alcohol use in the future.”

Special guests handing out the category prizes were Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin, Union of Students in Ireland; Ciaran Darcy, Irish Times; Nicki Kileen, Ana Liffey Drug Project; and Stuart Clarke, Hot Press.

The winning entries can be found online at www.drugs.ie.