National award for Western’s advertising department

The Advertising Sales team at the Western People were among the winners at the 2026 Local Ireland Media Awards as they brought home the award for Best Innovation for their Lunch & Learn Initiative.

The most recent Lunch & Learn event was held at the Cot and Cobble in Ballina, bringing together business leaders from a range of sectors including finance, tourism, legal and transport.

It gave local entrepreneurs an opportunity to network while learning more about how digital marketing can help businesses grow in an increasingly connected marketplace.

Aidan McNulty, Commercial Manager with the Western People, said he was absolutely delighted that the team were recognised at national level for the initiative.

“Over the past number of years, Lunch & Learn has become a key part of how we engage with businesses across Mayo, the West of Ireland and beyond,” he said.

“The concept is simple but highly effective: bringing small, medium and large businesses together in their own communities to demonstrate how print and digital advertising can work hand in hand to deliver real results.” 

By hosting these local events, the Advertising Sales team hopes to create an environment where businesses can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from practical case studies.

“We show how Western People and The Irish Times Regionals, trusted local and national media brands, can help drive customers not only to shop fronts, stores and services, but also to websites and online platforms,” Aidan said.

At a time when businesses face more marketing choices than ever before, the Western People's aim is to cut through the noise and provide clear, practical guidance on reaching local, regional and national audiences.

Aidan said that the positive response from businesses across Mayo attending the Lunch & Learn events has been hugely encouraging.

“To have this initiative recognised by Local Ireland is a tremendous honour. The award reflects the hard work, innovation and commitment of our entire sales team, who continually look for new ways to support businesses and help them grow.

“What makes this achievement especially rewarding is that it recognises not just a successful advertising programme, but a model that brings a business community together,” he said.

The Lunch & Learn has created opportunities for Mayo companies to learn from each other, share ideas, and discover new ways to promote their products and services.

“With dozens of entries submitted from local newspaper and media organisations across the country, we are extremely proud that the Western People has been recognised as a leader among its peers,” Aidan added.

“It is a testament to the strength of paper, website and social channels and to the value of trusted journalism and advertising working together to support business growth.” “This award belongs to the entire team, and we look forward to continuing to innovate and help businesses connect with their audiences in meaningful and effective ways for many years to come.”