Dundalk IT students’ documentaries earn national recognition at Shine Mental Health Awards

Two groups of DkIT students have been nominated in the Student Journalism Award category as part of Mental Health Media Awards 2025. It is one of 12 awards across categories including Print & Online, Broadcast, Digital Content and the Refugee Mental Health Award.

The winners will be announced at an event in Dublin, on December 3, 2025.

The awards celebrate journalists, producers, editors and content creators, whose work improves public understanding of mental health, challenges stereotypes and fosters informed discussion.

Shine is a national charity supporting people with experience of mental illness, their families and supporters. The charity’s media programme is responsible for reporting and representation of mental illness and suicide, recognised globally for innovative media-and-mental-health practice.

The two Films nominated from DkIT are ‘The Real Cian Stanley’, written by Cian Stanley and brought to life by his crew Tom Johnson, Hannah Meehan, David Daly and Jake Cooney and ‘The Dungeon’ – created by Ben Holland and brought to life by his crew Katie Hughes, Max Farrelly and Shauna Bowden.

‘The Real Cian Stanley’ is a deeply personal documentary that shares Cian’s own story from being diagnosed with dyspraxia at a young age to overcoming some very difficult obstacles in his life.

“To see my documentary recognised like this feels surreal. It’s a reminder of how far things have come and how powerful it can be to share your truth,” said Cian, from Stackallan, Co.Meath.

“I’m really grateful to see it connect with people, and to have it acknowledged by the Shine Awards! Being the subject and the editor on this project was tough, as it made the process even more emotional, however it was so rewarding in the end as it healed a lot of wounds I never thought would be mended. It gave me the chance to look at everything I’d been through from a new perspective and turn it into something that might give others hope.  Editing the documentary has made me realise how far I’ve come and to shape my story into something honest that might help others is something I am truly proud of.”

The second film ‘The Dungeon’ is a documentary about crew member Ben’s family, the Hollands from Dundalk who are national and world record holders in powerlifting. The documentary explores the mental impact of the training involved in preparing for such intense competitions and the toll things like lifts not going to plan can take on competitors. The documentary focuses on Ben’s siblings Jay, Lucy and Scott and his parents Kevin and Lauri. It explores what happens behind the scenes to prepare for such challenging competitions and the importance of a support network through difficult times.

“I’m blown away by the nomination, “said Ben. “It reflects the incredible dedication of my team, whose hard work made the documentary the success it is. Directing this project was an unforgettable experience, and I’m deeply grateful to my family for inspiring me to take the leap and bring this story to life.”

Read Next: Show-stopping Frostival set to illuminate Dundalk like never before

Shine CEO Nicola Byrne said: “The public’s perception of mental illness is shaped, to a very large degree, by how it is portrayed in media. That is an important responsibility. With these awards, we celebrate outstanding journalism that improves understanding, challenges stereotypes, and fosters informed discussions about mental health. Congratulations to all those shortlisted.”

Shine Media Programme Lead Áine O’Meara added: “Mental health stories can change people’s lives. We received 100s of submissions from media professionals across the country who are shaping how audiences perceive mental health, and sometimes even directly influence the supports audiences need. To cover mental health well is an act of public service and I’m grateful to all those who did that this year. We’re delighted to recognise this contribution through the shortlist.”