Prestigious national award for Mayo GAA's online digital team
Mayo GAA Communications, led by public relations officer John Walker, has won the Best Digital Impact accolade in the GAA's National Communication and Media (MacNamee) Awards.
They were selected for an impressive digital strategy, which has grown Mayo GAA into one of the largest county social media footprints in the country.
The adjudicators stated: "From this strategy, Mayo GAA's online traffic surged by 60%, fueled by PRO John Walker's passion and dedication to capturing and sharing powerful moments from matches across multiple platforms.
"The work in redesigning the Mayo GAA website and transforming Mayo GAA TV, with clips reaching millions of viewers, exemplifies commitment to innovation.
"Mayo GAA's passion and dedication have made them the leader in digital GAA storytelling and news in the county."
The Mayo GAA digital platforms are Mayo GAA Instagram, Mayo GAA X and Mayo GAA Facebook.
The GAA National Communication and Media Awards are named after the late Pádraig MacNamee, former President of the GAA, Chairman of the GAA Commission (1969-1971) and member of the RTÉ authority.
The GAA MacNamee Awards recognise excellence in the area of GAA communications and the winners for outstanding media coverage of the 2023 GAA season at local and national level are announced today.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “From its very beginning the GAA has understood the importance of telling our story, and it explains why in our formative years so many journalists held important posts throughout the association.
“As we stand here 140 years on, the GAA continues to have a great story to tell and the importance of being able to tell it and tell it well is absolutely crucial – especially in the modern world and in the modern and complex media landscape.
"That is why these MacNamee awards matter and why it is important to recognise and salute outstanding examples of excellence in the coverage of Gaelic games.
"We greatly value the exposure that is afforded to our great games and our great players, and I want to congratulate all who have been celebrated on this occasion and thank all of those media professionals who champion the coverage of Gaelic games in their outlets.”
The other 2023 MacNamee Award winners are as follows: Best GAA Publication – Colm Keyes & Dermot Reilly, 'Chasing Sam Maguire – The All-Ireland Football Championship 1928-1977'; Best GAA Club Publication – Clan na Gael CLG, An Lorgain, 'More than a Club'; Best Photograph – 'Where We All Belong' by David Fitzgerald of Sportsfile; Best Programme – Roscommon Senior Football Championship Final Programme; Best GAA Related Radio Programme – Galway Bay FM, 'The Men of 23', presented by Ollie Turner; Provincial Media Award – Damian Dolan, Irish World, 'The Game of Their Lives'; National Media Award – Brendan Crossan, Irish News, 'All Hail John McKillop'; Gradam na Gaeilge (Irish Language Award) – Donncha Mac an Iomaire, 'Míreanna CLG, Molscéal'; Hall of Fame – John Knox, Kilkenny.