Offaly architecture student chosen as overall winner in AI-assisted video competition

Offaly student Luke Carey has been chosen as the overall winner of the AI-assisted video competition Togra Scéalaí. The Tullamore native is a final year architecture student at University of Limerick.

Luke’s winning work is entitled 'A Contemporary Gaeltacht' which is based on his final year architectural thesis project: ‘The revival of a language through architecture - the adaptive reuse of colonial era factories’. He received €1,500 in prize money for the stellar achievement. 

An Togra Scéalaí is an AI video generated competition, which was originally initiated by Údarás na Gaeltachta as an opportunity to encourage discussion around this aspect of AI, in presenting the tools, opportunities and challenges that it offers the Gaeltacht and the Irish speaking community. 

Other winners in the competition included Oisín Ó hEartán, a writer and director from Corca Dhuibhne in Kerry for his entry ‘An Laoch Óg’ who claimed first prize in the AI only category securing the category prize of €1,500.

His winning entry was based on Fionn Mac Cumhaill from the time he was born, when his name was Deimne, his ubringing in the forest with his two foster mothers, the time he spent with Finnégas and the Salmon of Knowledge until he put an end to Aillén, the burning giant, and was chosen as leader of the Fianna. 

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The prize fund included the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each of the two categories, those entirely created using AI tools and those partially created using AI tools.

In Category 1 (created solely with AI), other winners were Colm Farrell from Leitrim, who won second prize (€1,000) for his entry entitled 'An Solas Idir Dhá Shaol' and programme maker Sinéad Ní Loideáin, from Na Forbacha, Co. Galway for her entry ‘Le Chéile is Fearr’ winning €500. 

Other Category 2 winners (partial AI use) included Seán Ó Coistealbha from Indreabhán, Co na Gaillimhe for his entry ‘Athrú Iomlán’ (€1000 prize) and Aminafawzy Mohammed’s from Saudi Arabia entry entitled ‘The Irish Language’ (€500 prize).

In choosing the overall prize winners in the competition, adjudicator Micheál Ó Drisleáin of Nemeton TV said: “I was incredibly impressed by the quality and the work that was put into these videos by all of the participants. There was a lot of variety and the entries that made it to the judging panel were of excellent quality."

He added: "Our world is changing, and it is clear that videos made like this will have a role in our future. Irish speakers should have a central part in this."

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On presenting the prize-winners, Ruairí Ó Néill, Director of Corporate Services, Údarás na Gaeltachta commented: "It is essential that we ensure the prominence and visibility of the Irish Language in the new digital world we live in.

As things stand, there is very little available on digital platforms as Gaeilge compared to other languages. One of the best ways to deal with this gap is to empower the people to add to the amount of content available as Gaeilge."

He declared: "This gives people the opportunity to create content as Gaeilge for their families and friends all while adding significantly to the digital environment of the Irish Language.

By partaking in the competition, Gaeltacht communities and the Irish Language Community had the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies available to create Irish Language video content."

Údarás na Gaeltachta continue their commitment in supporting the audiovisual sector in the Gaeltacht with substantial investments into in the audiovisual industry in both capital and training infrastructures.