Limerick Students to Showcase Filmmaking Skills on Shannon Estuary

Students from the Shannon Estuary counties have been invited to participate in a filmmaking competition that encourages them to explore the significance of the Shannon Estuary in shaping their futures and that of their region. The fifth biannual ‘COMPASS’ competition, organized by the Shannon Foynes Port Company, invites Transition Year students from schools in Limerick, Clare, Kerry, and North Tipperary to develop short films under the theme ‘Connecting Our Future.’

The competition aims to highlight the role of the estuary in promoting a sustainable future through transport and renewable energy. Students are encouraged to delve into key themes such as the importance of the Shannon Estuary, the opportunities presented by Shannon Foynes Port for the Mid-West Region, and the critical nature of connectivity—by sea, road, rail, and air—in driving regional growth and economic development.

Participants are urged to think creatively, conduct thorough research, and present their findings in an engaging and informative manner. The final films should effectively convey the strategic role of the port in shaping the region’s future and its potential as a vital national and international gateway for transport and renewable energy.

Collaboration with TUS Enhances Learning Experience

This year’s competition includes a partnership with TUS (Technological University of the Shannon). Six students from TUS’s Department of Marketing, Enterprise & Digital Communications will engage in a six-month program from January to June to promote the competition as part of their coursework.

Launching the competition, Patrick Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port Company, expressed pride in the initiative. He stated, “COMPASS allows us to engage students on a topic vital to their future and ours, highlighting how the Shannon Estuary can play a key role in shaping our collective futures.” Keating emphasized the enthusiasm of students as a source of inspiration for the project.

Dr. Derek McInerney, Head of Department at TUS, remarked on the importance of this collaboration. He noted that it exemplifies the strong partnerships TUS forms with industry, contributing to their graduates’ high employability rates. “By embedding six third-level students with the Shannon Foynes Port project team, we are building meaningful awareness campaigns while cultivating real-world experience and impactful engagement between education and industry,” he said.

Key Dates and Submission Details

Interested participants can obtain entry forms from the Shannon Foynes Port Company website or by contacting Evelyn Adams, Project Coordinator, at [email protected]. The deadline for submitting entry forms is December 12, with schools receiving an information pack upon entry.

Final films are due by March 6, and the five shortlisted schools will be announced on March 20, just one month before the Gala Awards Ceremony. For additional information on the COMPASS TY Schools Competition and Shannon Foynes Port Company, visit www.sfpc.ie.

This initiative not only nurtures filmmaking talent among students but also emphasizes the importance of the Shannon Estuary as a catalyst for regional development and sustainability.