Mayo News scoops top gong at Community Games awards

Mayo News scoops top gong at Community Games awards


Daniel Carey
Athlone

THE Mayo News scooped five prizes at the HSE Community Games Media Awards last weekend – including the overall award.
This newspaper also won the photographic award at the event, which took place in Athlone’s Hodson Bay Hotel, and was one of ten regional publications honoured for coverage of Community Games in 2010.
Westport photographer Conor McKeown was a joint winner of the Cutest Photograph Award for his picture from the under-six novelty race at last year’s Community Games – which first appeared in these pages. Meanwhile, Mayo Community Games PRO Michael Brophy was honoured for his work with The Mayo News and Midwest Radio.
“We would have been thrilled to win one award at a prestigious media event like this, so we’re absolutely delighted to be honoured in five categories,” said Mike Finnerty, Sports Editor of The Mayo News.
“I think this underlines, yet again, why so many people in this region are turning to The Mayo News for their sports coverage every week. Our sports section has built up a formidable reputation down through the years for the quality of its writing, design and the sheer breadth of coverage.
“That is because the readers come first for The Mayo News. They are the reason we invest so much time and energy in everything we do. From GAA to soccer to rugby to golf, and everything in between.
“I would like to thank, in particular, all at Mayo Community Games for all their help and enthusiasm during the Community Games season, particularly Michael Brophy and Antoinette Meehan. Without their input, it just wouldn’t be possible for us to win these type of awards.
“I would also to thank all the management and staff at The Mayo News who continue to strive to produce the best local newspaper in the county.”
He praised the photographic work of Conor McKeown, Michael Donnelly and Ann Hennessy, and paid special tribute to Mayo News designer Keith Reilly, who sourced all the material included in the newspaper’s Media Awards entry and designed most of the pages contained within it.
Noting that The Mayo News coverage of Community Games was not confined to the sports pages, he added that many local correspondents could also “take a bow” for their coverage of Community Games.
Margaret Bolton, Community Games PR and Marketing Manager, praised the newspaper for its consistently excellent coverage of the event, in which 90 per cent of Irish children participate.
Speaking at the ceremony, Community Games President Gerry Davenport thanked the national and regional media “for their continued support and encouragement” of the event.
He also revealed the dates for the three weekend of national finals, which will take place in Athlone on May 27-29, August 12-14 and August 19-21.
On a memorable day for Mayo media outlets, Midwest Radio won the top radio prize, while the Connaught Telegraph received a special award for its coverage of Community Games over the past decade.