Leitrim secondary school student is winner of Young Journalist Ireland Awards

A Leitrim Transition Year student has been crowned one of the winners of the Young Journalist Ireland Awards. 

The awards were announced this week at a ceremony in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, celebrating the outstanding work of Transition Year students from across the country.

Varvara Mavrova, St. Clare's Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton was announced as the Leitrim winner. 

Hosted by journalist Róisín Ingle, prizes were awarded across six categories: Features, Opinion, Sports Journalism, Photojournalism, Podcast, and School Newspaper.

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Speaking about the programme, Chair of NewsBrands Ireland, Sammi Bourke, said: “Sincere congratulations to all of today’s winners. The aim of our Young Journalist Ireland programme is to spark a passion for journalism in the next generation. Through the programme, students learn how to research, verify and tell stories - but just as importantly, they learn how to think critically about the information they encounter every day.

That skill has never been more important. We live in a time when misinformation can spread in seconds and when AI is rapidly changing how information is created and shared. In that environment, recognising trustworthy journalism is more important than ever.”

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The Overall Student Journalist of the Year 2026 award was presented to Rhéa McLoughlin from Moville Community College. 

Speaking about the winning piece, Chair of the Judging Panel and Editor of The Sunday Times Ireland, Kieran McDaid, said: “This piece reminds us that powerful stories are often close to home - you don’t need a celebrity subject to produce an outstanding feature. Instead, this writer found her story within her own family, with her grandmother at its heart.”

 ‘From the Back Step’ is a deeply personal and insightful account of life during the Troubles, told through the memories of the writer’s grandmother growing up in the Bogside area of Derry. The feature blends personal reflection with historical context, giving readers a vivid sense of everyday life amid tension and fear. The writer approaches difficult material with honesty and care, illustrating how conflict shaped one generation while peace defines the next.”

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The full list of winners can be read here: https://youngjournalist.ie/.

Now in its 14th year, the Young Journalist Ireland programme reaches more than 10,000 Transition Year students annually. The initiative is designed to build media literacy skills, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of journalists. Students learn how to assess sources, identify misinformation, and produce their own journalism, guided by professional journalists and editors.