The Department of Journalism in University of Limerick (UL) have recently established a competition in memory of Joe Drennan, a final year journalism student who was tragically killed in a hit and run incident in Limerick on 13th October, 2023.

The Joe Drennan Memorial Competition for Inclusive Journalism, in association with The Irish Times, was established in his honour, continuing Drennan's mission to enhance a wider understanding of marginalised communities through media. As such, the competition aims to recognise journalism that achieves just that.

Details of the competition were unveiled at the launch of Limerick Voice Newspaper, an award-winning multi-media news project organised by journalism students in UL and published with The Limerick Leader.

Among the stories and reports featured in the new publication is an interview with Joe Drennan’s mother Marguerite and his sister Sarah who detail their journey in grieving and coping with his tragic, untimely passing. The newspaper also comprises an interview with a Palestinian man, working in Limerick, who is desperately trying to help his family in Gaza. The 48-page newspaper also includes investigative news, community and culture sections, music, arts and sports stories.

A native of Mountrath, Co Laois, Joe Drennan was appointed editor in chief of Limerick Voice just a few weeks before his devastating death.

“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," says Dr. Kathryn Hayes, Associate Professor, BA Journalism and Digital Communication. "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."

Hayes further explained that the Joe Drennan Memorial Competition for Inclusive Journalism was devised to honour his pioneering spirit and the impact he made during his time in UL.

“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.”

“Our team has had an incredibly tough year dealing with the loss of our editor-in-chief, Joe Drennan," says Limerick Voice Managing editor Molly Cantwell. "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’”

Joe Drennan and Molly Cantwell in The Limerick Voice launch video.

His mother, Marguerite Drennan, spoke about the competition, expressing her pride and comfort to know her son will continue to provide inspiration to others:

“We are so grateful to University Limerick for honouring Joe in this way. 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.

“It’s an excellent competition, one he would have been so eager to compete in himself. It’s a fitting way to remember his passion for journalism and especially the inclusivity that he felt was so often forgotten. He would be so proud to be associated with this competition.”

For more information and entry requirements for the Joe Drennan Memorial Competition for Inclusive Journalism, please see below:

The winning article will be published in The Irish Times. Entrants will be required to produce a 1,000 – 1500-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. 

The winner of the competition will also receive a perpetual trophy presented by members of the Drennan family.

The competition will run annually commencing in Academic Year 2024/25. The deadline for submissions is November 30th, 2024.