Mayo school awarded for film on Clew Bay tragedy

Mayo school Scoil Phádraig in Westport has been awarded for the best local interest film in this years FÍS Film Awards.

The school’s sixth class students were presented with the award for their production, which depicted the 1894 Clew Bay drowning tragedy.

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Thirty-two people died in the tragedy that Thursday in June 1894 when the boat they were travelling on capsized on its journey from Achill to Westport Harbour.

Last year, a ceremony took place to commemorate those who died that night last June 

The award ceremony, which took place at DCU, was created to acknowledge the talents of filmmakers in primary schools and around the country.

The Institute of Art, Design and Technology’s Creative Manager, Christina Reynolds, was suitably impressed by the talent on show from Scoil Phádraig, Westport, and further afield.

“Competition was extremely high at this year’s event,” she stated, “which saw many movies about both history and technology being produced.”

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“This year’s contest saw several entries that provided a creative twist on stories of historical significance. “The awards highlight not just the talent of the students but also the power of collaboration and the role that technology and innovation play in shaping their storytelling.”

Twenty-five schools were to the fore and were awarded in their respective categories.