Limerick students invited to showcase filmmaking talent exploring the Shannon Estuary's significance

STUDENTS across the Shannon Estuary Counties have been invited to show their film-making flair in a competition focussed on capturing their perspectives on the potential of the estuary to shape their and the region’s future.

The fifth biannual hosting of Shannon Foynes Port Company’s ‘COMPASS’ competition for Transition Year students will this year see students from participating schools across the Shannon Estuary counties of Limerick, Clare Kerry and North Tipperary develop short films to the theme of ‘Connecting Our Future’. The overarching focus will be on how the estuary can forge a sustainable future through transport and renewable energy.

The key themes that the students are being asked to build their film around are the significance of the Shannon Estuary, the opportunities presented by Shannon Foynes Port to the Mid-West Region and the critical importance of connectivity — by sea, road, rail, and air — in driving regional growth and economic development.

Students are encouraged to think innovatively, carry out research, and present their insights in a compelling, informative, and creative way. The final film should clearly communicate the strategic role the port plays in shaping the region’s future and its potential as a key national and international gateway for transport and renewable energy.

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This year’s competition will also involve a unique partnership with TUS as six students from the university’s Department of Marketing, Enterprise & Digital Communications undertake, a six-month programme, from January to June, to promote the competition as part of their course.

Launching the competition, Patrick Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company, said:

“We are really proud of COMPASS as it gives us the opportunity to engage students on a topic that is so important to their own future and our own, and that is how the Shannon Estuary can play a key role in shaping all our futures. So, it’s an opportunity for us to spread the word about how pivotal the estuary is for everyone in the region but, in turn, we’re energised and inspired by the enthusiasm of the students.”

Commenting on their partnership on the 2026 competition, Dr Derek McInerney, Head of Department, at the Department of Marketing, Enterprise and Digital Communications, TUS, added:

"This collaboration between TUS and Shannon Foynes Port through the Compass Competition demonstrates the strong partnerships TUS forms with industry, all contributing to our graduates' top employability rate in the country. By embedding six third-level students from the Department of Marketing, Enterprise & Digital Communications with Shannon Foynes Port project team, we're not only building meaningful school awareness campaigns, but we are also cultivating real-world experience, shared purpose and a model for impactful engagement between education and industry."

Entry forms for the competition are now available from the Shannon Foynes Port Company website, or by contacting Evelyn Adams, Project Coordinator at eadams@sfpc.ie . December 12 is the deadline for entry forms, with schools receiving an information pack following entry. The short film must be submitted by March 6, with an announcement of the five shortlisted schools to take part in the grand-final to be made on March 20, just one month out from the Gala Awards Ceremony.

For more information on Shannon Foynes Port Company and the COMPASS TY Schools Competition, visit www.sfpc.ie.