Ballyfermot snaps up best small college publication and best short film awards

Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) walked away with two student media awards at the ‘Smedias’ last week.

The Ballyfermot Post won the award for best small college publication, which was accepted by the paper’s editor Cian Ginty on behalf of his colleagues. The Post is the first BCFE newspaper to win an award.

Speaking at the event Ginty was delighted with the paper’s achievement: “It’s been great to see all the hours we put in has paid off.”

“The paper’s production has been a team effort, but I’d really like to thank those who went the extra mile – if it was not for them we would not be here,” he added.

The college scooped up its second award for Liam Barrington’s film Prediction in the best short film category. Berrington beat off stiff competition from DIT Aungier St, Cholaiste Dhulaigh, and Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design.

In all, BCFE was nominated for five awards; best small college publication, national press journalist of the year, website of the year, best short film and TV production of the year. In addition, the Ballyfermot Post was on the Smedia’s “shortlist” for newspaper of the year, and layout and design of the year awards but failed to be fully nominated for such.

Our second deputy editor, Debbie Tierney, also got to the Smedia’s shortlist stage for the headline award for journalism relating to mental health or suicide prevention.

Elsewhere, BCFE students Bruno Palma and Gerard Browne were on the shortlist for the short film of the year category, and Patrick O’Grady and Ruth Devaney were both on the first list for the arts/features radio production of the year award.

Big winners on the night included TCD which picked up three of the top awards. The Trinity News won the coveted best newspaper, while its editor, Gearoid O’Rourke, was named editor and journalist of the year.

UCD, however, were the ones who took the most print awards. With the college’s newspapers the College Tribune and the University Observer taking away awards in a number of feature writer awards.

Present on the night lending their support were BCFE lecturers Fergal Hardiman, Joanne Hogan and print journalism course coordinator Declan Power. The ceremony, hosted by comedian John Lynch, and took place in Tripod on Harcourt Street, on Tuesday April 15.

- Lauren Halligan and Tom Rooney