Donegal journalists take home awards and merits at Justice Media Awards
Mark Tighe from Donegal Town won in the inaugural Print/ Online Journalism (feature) category for his contribution to ‘Field of Broken Dreams’ with Marie Crowe in the Sunday Independent
There was success for Donegal journalists at the Justice Media Awards 2025.
Mark Tighe from Donegal Town won in the inaugural Print/ Online Journalism (feature) category for his contribution to ‘Field of Broken Dreams’ with Marie Crowe in the Sunday Independent. The feature investigated the treatment of Irish women footballers.
The judges said: “It was a superb two-and-a-half-year investigation highlighting the mistreatment and wrongs made against women footballers who suffered in silence. These experienced journalists produced a standout entry, and it is a deserving winner.”
Tighe also received a merit for Girls in Green alongside Frank Shouldice and Marie Crowe in the Human Rights/ Social Justice Reporting (broadcast) category. Girls in Green was broadcast on RTÉ Investigates and was a joint investigation with Field of Dreams.
Tighe and Joe Molloy were awarded merit certificates in the Broadcast Journalism (podcast) category for Nikita Hand wins David and Goliath case against Conor McGregor on Indo Sport.
The judges commented: “In a well-reported three-week long civil rape case, these journalists brought legal focus to a sports audience. Their detailed court reporting stood out for its mixture of fact and analysis. It is clear the journalists had a strong understanding of the legal process, which was useful to help the public understand.”
Tighe had been shortlisted for the Reporting (print/online) category for ‘How one woman took on the world’s most “notorious” fighter and triumphed’, also about Nikita Hand’s civil rape case against Conor McGregor, in the Sunday Independent.
Dionne Meehan from Donegal News was awarded a merit certificate. Meehan, who is from Manorcunningham but lives in Ramelton, was shortlisted in the Newcomer of the Year category.
The judges said: “This journalist demonstrated strong local reporting, backing up reports with good research. She stood out for covering a range of topical socio-legal issues.”
Donegal Democrat/ DonegalLive’s own Chris McNulty, from St Johnston, was shortlisted in the Print/Online Journalism (local) category. His court reports, which focused on the length of time for court trials in Ireland, were shortlisted under ‘The time to justice’.
Broadcast journalist Andrea Gilligan from Ballyshannon was shortlisted in the Broadcast Journalism (radio - national) category. Andrea is a former University of Galway alumni as she completed the MA in Journalism in 2008. She was shortlisted alongside Dee King, Caoimhe Harney and Ross Leahy for ‘Do jurors need counselling supports?’ broadcast on Lunchtime Live, the show Andrea anchors on Newstalk.