SETU and Nemeton TV win two major awards at Irish 'oscars for students'

South East Technological University (SETU), in partnership with Nemeton TV, marked a very successful year at this year's National Student Media Awards - regarded as the Irish 'Oscars' for students

The partnership scooped 13 nominations in three categories and secured two significant wins for imaginative short films from the Higher Diploma in Television and Media Production course.

Filmmaker Fionn Barron won the new Údarás na Gaeltachta Award for Cruthaitheoir Ábhair Gaeilge na Bliana for his lyrical and compelling short film, 'Gairdíní Stella'. 

This personal documentary examined the Stella Gardens area of Dublin after the impact of the 2002 floods.

It captured the immediate chaos and destruction of the floods at the time and the irreversible change right up to the present. 

Fionn, whose sister Síomha Barron picked up the award for him, said: “The story is close to my heart. My family feature in the film and they experienced first-hand the impact of the tragedy for the area."

"Thank you to all the staff at Nemeton TV and SETU for their support," he said.

Designer and filmmaker, Tríona McGrath from Wexford, won the Gearrfhíseán Cruthaitheach na Bliana, sponsored by TG4 BLOC. 

For her first short film, Tríona teamed up with Irish language poet and broadcaster Ciara Ní É, and musician Morgan de Móinbhíol, to visualise their spoken word and musical collaboration 'Grá mo Bhrionglóidí'.

Tríona thoroughly enjoyed making the film in her cousin’s stunning setting, Foley’s of Newbawn, and was delighted to win the award.

“I am absolutely buzzing to have won at the SMEDIAS," she said.

"It’s been a fantastic year learning on the course and I am especially grateful to Ciara and to Morgan who also completed the course a few years ago," she said.

Commenting on the success of the students, Course Leader for the Higher Diploma in Television and Media Production, Dr Moira Sweeney said: “For almost two decades now, SETU has been dominating at the SMEDIAS in these categories and many of the award-winning short films can be viewed on the TG4 Player in the series, 'Céad Seans'."

“There is good news for anyone interested in directing and editing short drama, documentary film or digital marketing content," she said.

"The course will commence again in September 2026, with an exciting and innovative blend of practical workshops and online classes,” she added.

Outlining the nature of the course she said: "This eight-month course is uniquely tailored to the needs of students who wish to develop their skills while working. The high-quality films produced are broadcast on TG4’s series 'Céad Seans | First Chance', and achieve recognition at festivals around Ireland and have been winning at the National Student Media Awards since 2014.” 

 The Higher Diploma in Arts in Television and Media Production is run by SETU in association with Nemeton TV, one of Ireland’s leading production companies, and Udarás na Gaeltachta.