NEWSLETTER

Enniscorthy Youthreach Winners of the X-Hale
Youth Awards Film Competition 2015
The Annual Irish Cancer Society Annual X-Hale Awards took place on Thursday, 2nd July, 2015 in The Light House Cinema in Smithfield,
Dublin 7 with Enniscorthy Youthreach taking two top Awards. They won the overall at Senior Level and also the Award for most hits on
Youtube with over 72,000 views. There were 41 entries in this year’s competition from all over the country.
The Irish Cancer Society through the X-Hale Youth Awards want Youth Organisations to play their part in helping to prevent young
people in our community from starting to smoke. Currently in Ireland about 12% of school aged young people are reported to smoke
with rates as high as 25% of 15/17 year old girls in some areas.
Enniscorthy Youthreach students with assistance of their Teacher Mr. Hugh John Dunne set about creating an anti-smoking video
which they entered into the competition. The script was written, the sets made and the overall production took place and it depicts a
young girl being pressurised into smoking. This was achieved by introducing some similar scenes from horror movies acted out by the
cast from Youthreach.
“When this video was put on Youtube by the Irish Cancer Society and within hours it went viral.”
The message being portrayed by this short film is to prevent young people from starting to smoke.
Digital Media was introduced as an extra Curricular Module at Enniscorthy Youthreach in 2014/2015. The students had to carry out a
lot of research regarding the topic and then make sure they had the correct equipment. The checklist included the following - script,
rehearsals, camera, microphones, locations, props and make –up.
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Learners and Hugh Dunne with representatives from Irish Cancer Society.
John Brennan, Youthreach Co-ordinator and Teacher Hugh Dunne
Amber Flag for Ballincollig Youthreach
Recently Ballincollig Youthreach learners and
staff were presented with The Amber Flag by
Alan Quinlan, former Munster and Irish Rugby
player. Suicide Aware launched the Amber Flag
Initiative in 2013. The flag was launched to promote
positive mental health in schools, colleges,
clubs and societies who abide by Suicide Aware
criteria for positive mental health. Ballincollig
Youthreach eagerly engaged in this programme
L-R: Alan Quinlan, Linda O’Driscoll, Aaron
O’Driscoll, Thomas Jones, Adrian O’Connell and
Robert Rohu
demystifying issues around mental health and
encouraging young people to be more open in
talking about their own concerns.
Proud Ballincollig Youthreach learners with their
Amber Flag