Journalist Ní Chiaráin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

Irish language body to honour Northern commentator

Irish language body, An tOireachtas, is to presents its 2021 Life Achievement Media Award to journalist, columnist and political analyst, Póilín Ní Chiaráin. Ní Chiaráin was cited for her accomplished, astute and incisive commentary on Northern Ireland political and cultural affairs across all media channels for many years.

“The Oireachtas Lifetime Achievement Award is presented in recognition of a distinguished and substantial body of work in the Irish-language media sector,” said Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha, acting director of An tOireachtas,.

“Póilín Ní Chiaráin, irrespective of medium or language, is a consummate communicator. Her discerning, clear-sighted reports and analysis, in print and broadcast media, on the political and cultural landscape of Northern Ireland over many years has marked her as an authoritative, perceptive and reliable contributor to our understanding of issues of conflict and division as well as current affairs in the region. I extend Póilín my wholehearted congratulations on this well-earned Award and wish her continued success.

Póilín Ní Chiaráin said: “I am surprised and delighted to be receiving this Award from An tOireachtas. The path of the freelance journalist can be a solitary one, therefore I have the great fortune of being able to work with very talented people in RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta and in www.tuairisc.ie – two organisations with a keen interest in keeping abreast of the affairs of Northern Ireland. This award from An tOireachtas is as much for my colleagues in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and www.tuairisc.ie also and I am very honoured to accept it.”

Ní Chiaráin, a native of Iorras, Co Mayo, has lived in Northern Ireland for many years. Well-known and widely respected as journalist, columnist and Northern Ireland commentator, she came to our screens initially as a researcher and presenter on RTÉ’s current affairs programme, Féach, before moving on the Nuacht RTÉ. She then transferred to Belfast to work as a reporter for RTÉ News until some years later when she was appointed Head of News and Sport for the BBC in Derry. Readers became familiar with her writing through her columns in Foinse, the Irish Times and other publications. She has a weekly column in www.tuairisc.ie and appears regularly as a reporter and political analyst on news and current affairs programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4 and BBC Northern Ireland.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is just one of the awards being presented by Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sports & Media, Jack Chambers, at the Presentation Ceremony in Farmleigh House on Tuesday, 26th October. Winners of the twelve other categories will be announced on the night and the Presentation Ceremony will be broadcast live on www.tg4.tv and also via An tOireachtas website commencing at 7.30 p.m.