A lifetime of service to local newspapers honoured
MANAGING Director and former Editor of The Tuam Herald David Burke was honoured for his contribution to the local newspaper industry at the Local Ireland Media Awards in Mullingar last week.
David Burke was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala ceremony hosted by broadcaster Marty Whelan and attended by representatives of local newspapers from around the country.
It was the tenth annual awards and the eighth to be sponsored by the National Lottery and which were also supported by Coimisiún na Meán.
Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, David Burke said he had seen the evolution of print from hot metal to digital and remembered with nostalgia the smell of printing ink and the wooden poster type he had cleaned during his first summer job in The Herald.
He said that now more than ever in an era of disinformation and misinformation, the newspaper industry needed State support.
Thanking his friends and colleagues in Local Ireland and the Herald newsroom team and management, as well as his family, who were at the event, he said he was accepting the award not only on his own behalf but on behalf of all the old owner-editors who got their fingers blackened with ink to lay the foundations of the industry we have today, and will have into the future.
Members of The Tuam Herald newsroom team were also finalists in three award categories on the night. Editor Siobhán Holliman was a finalist for the National Lottery Community Journalist of the Year, journalist Patrick Flaherty was a finalist for the Best Diversity Journalist of the Year and photographer Ray Ryan was a finalist in the Best Photo of the Year category.
Over 700 entries were received for this year’s awards in a variety of categories that showcased the best of journalism in local newspapers.
President of Local Ireland Seán Mahon said: “What a fantastic night! A real celebration of everything that's great about local newspapers in Ireland.
“It was superb to see awards being won not just for news, political and sports reporting but also for special features, investigative journalism, digital innovation and creative advertising solutions. Well done to everyone who was nominated and to all our winners. We're privileged to have very talented, committed and passionate people who work for our local newspaper businesses.”
CEO of the National Lottery Cian Murphy said the awards shine a spotlight on the outstanding work of local journalists and regional newspapers.
“With more than 700 entries this year, the standard of journalism was truly first class. Local journalism does more than report the news — it fosters trust, gives communities a voice, and helps shape a shared sense of place and belonging while also informing, connecting, and strengthening communities across the country.
“They play a vital role that reflects the National Lottery’s own commitment to supporting Good Causes and making a positive difference in people’s lives throughout Ireland.”
Media Development Commissioner Rónán O’Domhnaill said: “It was heartwarming and encouraging to see such vibrancy and enthusiasm amongst the members of Local Ireland at the awards.
“A thriving local media landscape is vital to a functioning democracy and in Ireland it is clear that the local newspaper industry is central to that.”
Some of Ireland’s leading media professionals make up the awards’ judging panel.
Chair, journalist and broadcaster Alison O’Connor told the audience: “Local journalism matters enormously. It happens in the courtroom, the council chamber, the parish hall. It captures the highs and lows of community life—the joy of a local sporting triumph, the heartbreak of job losses, the significance of a planning decision that will shape a town’s future.
“And it’s evolving. Stories are being told in fresh ways—through podcasts, TikTok, QR codes—and our increasingly diverse communities are being reflected more and more in the pages of local titles right across the country."