Sligo teenager wins credit union video award

A Sligo teenager has won the first national credit union video clip competition.

Paul Leonard (14), from Grange, Co Sligo, took the top prize of €4,000 with his 60-second clip of "his place", featuring music from his band Rampant.

Entrants were invited to make the short clips on "their place", which could be anywhere they felt at home such as their local town, village, sports club, outdoors - even their own bedroom. Entries could be recorded on a mobile phone, camcorder or digital camera.

More than 100 entries were received for the competition, which was devised to mark the 50th anniversary of the credit union movement in Ireland.

The judging panel, which was made up of representatives from the Irish League of Credit Unions, youth organisation SpunOut.ie and YouTube, chose three entries, with the fourth prize voted for by the public in the Viewer's Choice category.

Second place of €2,500 went to Ruth Lanigan and Ross Giles from Maynooth, Co Kildare, for their video My Place is Moi, while third place of €1,500 was awarded to Manuela Corbari, who is Italian and living in Salthill, Galway, for her video of what makes Galway special for her.

The viewers choice award went to James Goldsbury, Clontarf, Dublin, who picked up a cheque for €2,000.

The winners were presented with their prizes at an awards ceremony today by Irish film director Paddy Breathnach and Irish League of Credit Unions president Uel Adair.

"It's very exciting to see the high level of work from all the winners," Mr Breathnach said. "They're really impressive - and I hope they keep on developing their skills in this area."