Fresh talent is shaping the future of Ireland’s creative and technology-led communications industry. In the latest tech news ireland update, IAPI has announced the 14 winners of the 2026 Irish Young Lions competition, spotlighting emerging professionals who will represent Ireland at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Supported by Smurfit Westrock, the competition gives early-career talent a high-profile platform to prove their ideas under pressure. The selected teams worked across demanding live briefs for Media Literacy Ireland, producing campaign concepts within just 48 hours. That mix of creativity, speed and strategic thinking reflects wider technology trends ireland and the growing overlap between advertising, digital platforms and innovation-led brand storytelling.
Who Won the 2026 Young Lions Competition?
The 2026 winners span seven categories and come from some of the country’s best-known agencies and brands:
- Design: Lara Fagherazzi and Jamie Craig, Core
- Digital: Emily Wilson and Rhea Chhaya, Omnicom Media
- Film: Ciara Murphy and Niamh Aremband, Droga5 Dublin
- PR: Ciara Farrell and Eve McSweeney, Harris PR
- Print: Hannah Murphy and Kate Dempsey, TBWAIreland
- Media: Dillon Dsouza and Lana O’Kiersey, Core
- Young Marketers: Darragh Spain and Fardosa Flanagan, 123.ie
What This Means for Ireland’s Creative and Digital Sectors
This announcement matters beyond awards season. It is also significant for media news ireland, ad agency news ireland and digital marketing news ireland, because it highlights the pipeline of talent feeding Ireland’s wider creative economy. As brands adapt to platform shifts, AI-assisted production and platform updates ireland, competitions like Young Lions help identify professionals ready for a fast-changing market.
Why the competition stands out
- It rewards strategic creativity under real-world time limits
- It connects Irish talent to a global industry stage
- It strengthens the visibility of the Irish tech sector news and creative ecosystem
For anyone tracking tech news ireland, the Young Lions winners are a reminder that Ireland’s next generation of innovators is already making its mark. Their success signals a strong future for the country’s creative, media and digital industries.
