A final year journalism student at the University of Limerick who died tragically in a hit and run incident at Castletroy in Limerick last October is being remembered by his journalism colleagues and the university.
Joe Drennan from Co Laois was a final year student at UL and was killed when he was struck by a car as he was waiting at a bus stop in Castletory on 13 October last year.
The Department of Journalism at UL has now established the Joe Drennan Memorial Competition for Inclusive Journalism, in association with The Irish Times, which aims to recognise journalism that enhances understanding of marginalised communities.
Details of the competition were unveiled at the launch of the Limerick Voice newspaper, a multimedia news project produced each year by journalism students in UL and published with The Limerick Leader newspaper.
Mr Drennan was appointed editor-in-chief just weeks before his death.
Among the stories to feature in the publication is an interview with Mr Drennan's mother Marguerite and his sister Sarah who spoke about how their family is trying to deal with the tragic death.
Dr Kathryn Hayes, Associate Professor, BA Journalism and Digital Communication, said the Joe Drennan Memorial Competition for Inclusive Journalism was designed to honour his pioneering spirit and the impact he made during his time in UL.
"Joe was committed to pursuing stories that would foster a deeper understanding of marginalised communities, whom he believed were often overlooked in some mainstream media," Dr Hayes said.
"His desire for change is evident in the journalism work he produced and the vision he had for his role as editor-in-chief of Limerick Voice digital news project in University of Limerick.
"His pitch for the role of editor, just a few weeks before his tragic death, epitomised his wider vision to effect change through his journalism work.
"As editor-in-chief he urged reporters to 'find a voice that they themselves had not heard before'.
"We believe this competition will help contribute to a more inclusive and diverse media landscape and is a fitting tribute to Joe."
'Stories that speak'
Limerick Voice managing editor Molly Cantwell paid tribute to her former colleague.
"Our team has had an incredibly tough year dealing with the loss of our editor-in-chief, Joe Drennan," Ms Cantwell said.
"However, as his co-editor and managing editor of Limerick Voice, I really believe we have done him proud.
"The LV team of 2023/2024 have put together one of the biggest issues of the paper to date, full of articles which perfectly match the mission statement chosen by myself and Joe Drennan: 'Stories That Speak’."
Mr Drennan’s mother said the Drennan family are proud to know that Joe will continue to provide inspiration to others.
"We are so grateful to University Limerick for honouring Joe in this way," Ms Drennan said.
"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 winning article will be published in The Irish Times.
Entrants will be required to produce a 1,000-1,500-word article, suitable for multimedia use.
Winners will be selected on the basis of impact, originality, news gathering and research, depth of investigations and quality of writing.
Speaking about the memorial competition, Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor of The Irish Times said: "As journalists, it's not only our duty to report the news, but to illuminate the stories often overlooked, amplify the voices of the marginalised and strive for a more inclusive narrative.
"The Joe Drennan Competition serves not only as a tribute to the life of a young journalist whose passion for social justice was cut short, but also as a beacon for more inclusive journalism.
"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."
The winner of the competition will also receive a perpetual trophy presented by members of the Drennan family.
The competition will run annually, starting in the 2024/25 academic year.
The deadline for submissions is 30 November 2024.
