Robert gets top award for drugs film
Robert Gaynor, from Strandhill, scooped €1,000 in prize money after he took the top award at the “Let’s Talk About Drugs” competition, co-sponsored by the Irish Examiner.
Now in its seventh year, the drugs education competition attracted a record number of entries from schools, colleges and youth clubs from across the country.
More than 270 submissions were entered, double that of last year. They came from 20 counties and, with many group entries, involved around 1,000 people.
The awards are the brainchild of the Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs. They were supported this year by Drugs.ie, the HSE, the Department of Health, and Crimestoppers as well as the Irish Examiner.
The group’s chairman Eddie Matthews said the aim of the awards was to raise awareness about drugs and alcohol and to promote a healthier, alternative lifestyle.
He praised the involvement of state bodies like the HSE and the Department of Health, represented by Alex White, the primary care minister, but called on the Department of Education to get involved.
This year’s awards covered the two themes: “Alcohol and sport — who is the real winner?” and “Weed and health — are we making a hash of it?” There were four age groups (12 to 14; 15 to 17; 18 to 20 and 21-plus) across five media formats: newspapers; film or animation; audio; cartoon; and poster.
Robert Gaynor won the 12-14-year-old category for film/animation before winning the top award.
“I’m very happy,” he told the Irish Examiner.
“I want to get my own laptop and the money will help me do this.”
His two-minute film, technically accomplished, tells the story of a young athlete experimenting with alcohol.
He said it was “fun to do” and that he used specialist software to edit the film. He now attends secondary school at Summerhill.
Sean Downey, from Midleton, Co Cork, won the 12-14-year-old category in audio, for his thoughtful rap on drug abuse stemming from emotional tragedy within a family. “A lot of people are using drugs to cover up their pain, physical and emotional pain, and this was the idea for my rap.”
In the newspaper category, brothers Darragh and Aaron Elbel, from Killarney, Co Kerry, both won awards, for the 12-14 and the 18-20 age groups respectively. Alice Kearns, from Dalkey, Dublin, won the 15-17 category.
Mr White commended the creativity of the students and said the campaign “helped to develop a deeper understanding of drug misuse”.
Winning entries will be available to downloaded onwww.drugs.ie/awards
A selection of the multi media content which caught the judges eye this year
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