New memorial prize honours Laois student
Joe Drennan was an award-winning final year journalism student at UL when he was killed by a hit-and-run driver. File image
THE legacy of a Laois student who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run is being honoured with a memorial prize.
University of Limerick (UL) has established a journalism award, in association with , in memory of Joe Drennan from Camross, a UL student who died just two weeks after his 21st birthday.
Open to third level students on all courses, not just journalism degrees, throughout the island of Ireland, the Drennan Prize will honour Joe’s legacy and encourage emerging journalists to amplify underrepresented voices. The winning entry will be published in .
Entries are now open for ‘Unheard Voices: The Joe Drennan Memorial Prize for Inclusive Journalism’, which will celebrate journalism that advances social justice and enhances understanding of marginalised communities and values.
A native of Knochnagad, Camross, Mountrath, Joe was a final year journalism student at UL when he was killed on Friday 13 October, 2023. He was standing at a bus stop near the university gates, on his way home from working in a nearby restaurant, when he was struck by a driver who fled the scene.
Dr Kathryn Hayes, associate professor of Journalism and Digital Communication at UL, said: “Joe’s passion was to build a journalism career grounded in inclusivity and social justice.
“We are proud that this prize established by the journalism department in UL honours Joe’s legacy, particularly his dedication to journalism that speaks for often-unheard voices. Opening it up to students across Ireland ensures that Joe’s values will inspire a new generation of journalists nationally.”
Ruadhán Mac Cormaic, editor of , said: “The Joe Drennan prize is a fitting way to memorialise a promising young journalist who was just starting out in our trade. It will create an invaluable opportunity for an emerging reporter to do work of real depth on a subject that matters.”
Entrants must submit a 1,500-word article, along with images and video. Submissions will be judged on impact, originality, depth of investigation, quality of research and reporting and standard of writing.
Entries can be submitted to Kathryn.hayes@ul.ie and the closing date is 31 May, 2026.
