Every week we take a look at the stories sent through MediaHQ’s press release distribution tool and post the best covered ones in a weekly blog. For this week, Media Consult, Alzheimer Society, University Limerick, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and Press Up Hospitality Group made it to the top of our list.
1) Media Consult
Title: Brave teen Claudia thanks Late Late viewers as €325,000 raised for Debra Ireland
Author: Peter Doyle
Email delivery rate: 100%
Time of release: 11:51 on 20th February 2023
Coverage examples:
A brave teenager battling a debilitating skin disease has thanked big-hearted TV viewers after more than €325,000 was raised for ‘Butterfly skin’ charity, Debra Ireland.
Claudia Scanlon, 19, and Debra Ireland ambassador Johnny Sexton generated the huge public donation as they appeared on RTÉ’s Late Late Show last Friday
to talk about painful condition, EB.
Claudia, from Dublin’s Terenure, has the severe form of the genetic disorder, which has left 80% of her body covered in blisters – and needs a wheelchair because it is too painful for her to walk.
She told host Ryan Tubridy that Debra Ireland is desperately trying to fund research into finding a cure for the disease, which affects around 300 people in Ireland.
“It is one of the worst conditions out there and I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy,” she said.
“It is a living hell and that is the only way that I can describe it.
But despite the immense pain she has to contend with, the teenager said she does not want "to sit in a corner and cry about it”.
“I don’t want to throw my life away. I have a life to live and I want to do the best I can."
Viewers responded in their droves on Friday night and over the weekend by donating €325,000 after a link to the charity’s website was broadcast during the show.
“This is a tremendous amount of money, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity,” said Claudia today. (Feb 20)
“This fundraising means so much – not only to me but to the whole EB community.
"The money raised will hopefully help fund a cure."
During the show, Ireland rugby captain Sexton, who has worked with the charity for 12 years, praised Claudia for her bravery.
“The first thing that you see it how incredibly brave they (EB patients) are.. it makes you feel a little bit bad about yourself when you come home with an injury or after a bad game and you’re giving out about the world.
“What they go through is worlds apart, and their families as well, Claudia’s mum and dad are here tonight and what they do for her is incredibly inspiring.”
Debra Ireland CEO, Jimmy Fearon, said he wanted to thank everyone who helped raise the six-figure sum for the charity.
“Once again, the Irish public have shown how incredibly generous they are. We cannot thank them enough,” he said.
Tubridy, on his RTE 1 radio show this morning, described the public’s response to the fundraising appeal as “extraordinarily generous”.
EB is caused by missing proteins which bind the skin together.
As well as funding medical research into finding a cure for the disease, Debra Ireland also supports patients and their families with day-to-day care and psychological supports.
If you missed your chance to donate, you can still do so at: debra.ie.
Media information: Niall Moonan, 086 683 7829, niall@mediaconsult.ie; Peter Doyle, 086 308 8989, peter@mediaconsult.ie.
No repro fee pic attached.
Sample caption: Claudia Scanlon, who was born with distressing skin disease epidermolysis bullosa (EB) – which causes the skin and the body’s internal lining to blister at the slightest touch – on the set of Friday's Late Late Show with host Ryan Tubridy and Ireland rugby international Johnny Sexton, an ambassador for EB charity, Debra Ireland. More than €325,000 was raised for the charity during the fundraising appeal.
2) Alzheimer Society
Title: Press Release - The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Launches New Tralee Social Club
Author: Hugh O'Donoghue
Email delivery rate: 100%
Time of release: 08:32 on 20th February 2023
Coverage examples:
Free image attached to the email.
Photo Caption: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Staff Pose with Minister Norma Foley and Senator Fiona O'Loughlin at the Rosemary Day Care Centre, Where the Upcoming Social Club Will Be Held.
Case studies/interviews with ASI reps are available upon request.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 08:30 am, Monday, February 20th, 2023
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Launches New Tralee Social Club
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) is very pleased to announce the opening of their new Social Club in Tralee. The ASI welcomes people with dementia, their carers and families to attend its new Social Club in The Rosemary Day Centre, Tralee, County Kerry.
The Social Club is a social gathering where people can call in to have a chat, access information and support and meet other people to exchange ideas and experiences. The Club also plans activities, organises outings, and allows people with dementia and their carers to meet others in a welcoming, warm and informal setting.
The ASI Tralee Social Club course will take place every second Friday from 12 pm - 2 pm at The Rosemary Day Centre, Tralee. The Social Club will commence on 24th February.
ASI staff members and volunteers support each club meeting and facilitate the group's needs.
An estimated 2,429 people live with dementia in Kerry, and 64,000 people live with Dementia in Ireland.
The ASI Head of Operations, Siobhan O’Connor, said:
“We’re excited to launch our new Tralee Social Club. Like all ASI services, our Social Clubs are dementia-specific; the Tralee Social Club is a great opportunity for people with dementia, their carers and families to meet others in a safe and warm environment and have fun! We look forward to seeing the new Social Club kick off in Tralee on February 24th and welcome people with dementia and family members in the region to join us.”
To learn more about the social club, please contact the Co-Ordinator at 066 7180377 or asitralee@alzheimer.ie.
ENDS
For more information, contact The ASI Communications Manager Hugh O’Donoghue at hugh.odonoghu@alzheimer.ie or 085 8567143.
Notes to the Editor:
About The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI):
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is the leading dementia-specific service provider in Ireland. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and supports and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with dementia and their carers. Our vision is an Ireland where people on the journey of dementia are valued and supported. A national non-profit organisation, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland advocates, empowers and champions the rights of people living with dementia and their communities to quality support and services. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland also operates the Alzheimer National Helpline offering information and support to anyone affected by dementia on 1800 341 341.
Alzheimer National Helpline:
For more information on our supports and services during this challenging time, don't hesitate to contact The Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline. The Helpline is open six days a week, Monday to Friday, 10 am – 5 pm and Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, on 1800 341 341. Email at helpline@alzheimer.ie or via Live Chat at www.alzheimer.ie
ABOUT DEMENTIA
- There are 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland, and the number of people with the condition will double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.*
- There are 11,000 new cases of dementia in Ireland each year. That’s at least 30 people every day, and anyone can get dementia - even people in their 30s/40s/50s.**
- Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions which cause changes and damage to the brain.
- Dementia is progressive. There is currently no cure. Dementia is not simply a health issue but a social issue that requires a community response.
- Most people with dementia (63%) live at home in the community. Over 180,000 people in Ireland are currently or have been carers for a family member or partner with dementia, with many more providing support and care in other ways.
- 1 in 10 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland is under 65.
- The overall cost of dementia care in Ireland is just over €1.69 billion per annum; 48% of this is attributable to family care; 43% is by residential care; formal health and social care services contribute only 9% to the total cost.
*Figures referenced by Cahill, S. & Pierce, M. (2013) The Prevalence of Dementia in Ireland
*Figure referenced from Alzheimer Europe (2020) Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2019 ‘Estimating the prevalence of dementia in Europe’
**Figure referenced from Pierce, T., O’Shea, E. and Carney P. (2018) Estimates of the prevalence, incidence and severity of dementia in Ireland.
3) University Of Limerick
Title: EMBARGO: University of Limerick research reveals ‘no academic advantage’ to attending single sex schools
Author: Alan Owens
Email delivery rate: 99%
Time of release: 12:46 on 21st February 2023
Coverage examples:
EMBARGO: University of Limerick research reveals ‘no academic advantage’ to attending single sex schools
- Study looks large sample of teens attending single sex and mixed schools and performance across specific subject areas
Press release (22/2/23)
***EMBARGO FOR PUBLICATION*** 00.01 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
New research carried out at University of Limerick has revealed that that there is ‘no significant difference’ in academic performance between those attending single sex or mixed schools.
The major new study has found that, on average, there is no significant difference in performance for girls or boys that attend single-sex schools compared to their mixed-schooling peers in science, maths or reading.
The research, a joint project between Dr Darragh Flannery, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick and Professor José Clavel, Department of Quantitative Methods, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain has been published in the British Educational Research Journal.
The study used a large sample of nearly 5,000 15-year-olds from the 2018 Irish wave of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) dataset to examine the association between attending a single-sex school and mathematics, reading and science literacy performance for boys and girls respectively.
The data is designed to examine what students can do with what they know in each of the three subject areas by testing how well they apply their knowledge in everyday life situations.
The dataset also includes extensive information about individual students and the schools they attend.
Dr Flannery explained: “The topic of single-sex versus mixed-sex schooling continues to be a source of debate within education policy in many countries, including Ireland. However, there is limited evidence around the relationship between attending a single-sex school and academic performance.
“In Ireland, relative to other countries, a high proportion of secondary school children - roughly one third - attend a single-sex secondary school. For this reason, the Irish educational system provides an interesting setting for exploring the outcomes of single-sex schooling.”
The analysis shows significant raw gaps in reading, science, and maths performance with pupils in single-sex schools performing better than those in mixed-schools. However, once the researchers applied a range of individual and school level factors such as the socioeconomic background of the student, the school student-staff ratio, the quality of teaching material available to the school and whether or not the school is disadvantaged, these gaps did not present as statistically significant.
It reveals, on average, that there is no difference in maths, science or reading performance for 15-year-olds after adjusting for the background of the student and other school-level factors and this result was found for both boys and girls.
“Our analysis shows no evidence of an academic advantage to attending a single sex school for boys or girls in Ireland,” explained Dr Flannery.
“The differences we see in the raw scores seem to be driven by what is known as ‘selection effects’. In other words, the fact that children in single-sex schools tend to come from households with higher socioeconomic backgrounds who tend to perform better in school in any case helps explain the gaps we see in performance between the different school types.”
The researchers stress that the results are presented as associations rather than causal effects as there may be other unobserved individual-level characteristics that may impact PISA performance and be correlated with the selection of single-sex schools versus mixed-sex schools.
However, given the relative richness of control variables in the study’s data, the paper makes an important contribution to the existing literature on single-sex schooling and the analysis presented should prove useful to the policy debate.
“While this study is limited to looking at one type of outcome in academic achievement, future research may be able to explore the relationship between attending single-sex or mixed-sex schools and non-cognitive outcomes such as confidence levels or measures of well-being,” Dr Flannery added.
ENDS
The study, ‘Single-sex schooling, gender and educational performance: Evidence using PISA data’, by Darragh Flannery and José Clavel, has been published in the British Educational Research Journal. For more, see here: https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3841.
For further information, please contact:
Alan Owens
Communications Officer
University of Limerick
+353 87 908 6633
alan.owens@ul.ie
About University of Limerick:
The University of Limerick is a research-led, independent, internationally focused university with more than 18,000 students and 1,800 staff. It is a young, energetic and enterprising university with a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship.
More information is available at www.ul.ie.
Tweet @UL
Facebook.com/universityoflimerick
LinkedIn University of Limerick
4) Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Title: Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launch €500,000 Changing Ireland Accelerator
Author: Ciara Franck
Email delivery rate: 99%
Time of release: 09:58 on 21st February 2023
Coverage examples:
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launch €500,000 Changing Ireland Accelerator
Four changemakers to each receive tailored supports and €60,000 to accelerate social change in Ireland
21 February 2023: Today, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) launches the Changing Ireland Accelerator. This programme will select four leaders and changemakers who are scaling solutions to solve social problems across the island of Ireland, with a focus on supporting those from underrepresented and/or marginalised communities.
The Changing Ireland Accelerator, supported by Google.org, aims to deliver accelerated social change by supporting social entrepreneurs with a proven solution to a social problem. The programme runs for 12 months from June 2023. As part of the Changing Ireland Accelerator, subgrants of €60,000 will be delivered to each of the successful applicants. Programme partner INCO will distribute this funding. The programme includes tailored supports and consultancy from some of Ireland’s leading business minds, in addition to the direct funding.
Commenting on the start of the open call for applications to the Changing Ireland Accelerator, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Tim Griffiths said “We are delighted with the support of Google.org and INCO to launch the Changing Ireland Accelerator. This programme will accelerate the social impact that is being delivered by social entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland, reaching some of our most underserved communities.”
Speaking about the Changing Ireland Accelerator, Rachael Bleakley, Program Manager, Google.org said “We are proud to support this programme with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. Social enterprise is increasingly important in helping to solve some of society’s biggest challenges, that is why we are committed to supporting social entrepreneurs and are encouraging ambitious change-makers to apply to the Changing Ireland Accelerator programme.”
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation committed to the vision of accelerated social change through the power of people. Since its foundation in 2004, SEI has supported more than 550 social entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland. This support takes the form of direct funding, bespoke consultancy and additional non-financial supports. Alumni of SEI programmes include AsIAm, CyberSafeKids, Mobility Mojo, Pieta House, the Together Academy and Traveller Counselling Service.
INCO is a global non-profit on a mission to create a more socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economy. Across 40+ countries around the world, INCO accelerates the growth of impact-driven businesses, and offers free education programs to the workforce of tomorrow. Since 2021, INCO has been leading StartSocial, an initiative supported by Google.org, to provide funding and capacity-building to over 400 social enterprises across Europe.
The €500,000 funding from Google.org is part of its European-wide commitment to supporting Social Entrepreneurs building on a commitment of €20 million Social Innovation Fund towards supporting underserved social innovators across Europe.
The full application guide and more details on how to apply are available on the SEI website. Applications are open from today,21st February to 14th March. A free information session regarding the programme and the application process will take place online on Thurs, 2nd March, and can be accessed via the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland website. Google.org are fully funding the costs of this programme in 2023 with a grant of €500,000.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
SEI Media Contact: Ciara Franck, Communications and Events Executive, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, 089 256 5530, ciara@socialentrepreneurs.ie / Renée Mackey, Communications and PR Executive, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, 083 071 2536, renee@socialentrepreneurs.ie.
Photos feature (left to right); Mathieu Planchard, Global Head of Development at INCO; Adaire Fox-Martin, GPresident of Google Cloud International and Head of Google Ireland; and Tim Griffiths, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
Available for interview
- Tim Griffiths, CEO, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
- Sophie Ainscough, Programmes Manager, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
- SEI alumni, Alex Cooney, co-founder of CyberSafeKids
About Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) is a not-for-profit organisation (Charity Reg Number No: 20065379), that is committed to accelerated social change through the power of people. Since its foundation in 2004, SEI has identified and supported more than 550 social entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland who are championing and driving solutions in areas such as mental health, homelessness, the environment, education, and unemployment. For more information, see www.socialentrepreneurs.ie
About INCO
INCO is a global nonprofit on a mission to create a more socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable economy. Across 40+ countries around the world, INCO accelerates the growth of impact-driven businesses, and offers free education programs to the workforce of tomorrow. Since 2021, INCO has been leading StartSocial, an initiative supported by Google.org, to provide funding and capacity-building to over 400 social enterprises across Europe. In 2021, INCO supported more than 1,200 social entrepreneurs and 30,000 underserved jobseekers around the globe.
5) Press Up Hospitality Group
Title: Flippin' Out - Where to get FREE pancakes this Pancake Tuesday!
Author: Laura Arnold
Email delivery rate: 99%
Time of release: 10:01 on 17th February
Coverage examples:
Dear %_recipient_firstname_%,
I wanted to share our annual list of spots where you can get your hands on scrumptious pancakes this Tuesday, which is of course Pancake Tuesday, arguably one of the best days of the year.
Enjoy!
Thank you,
Laura
FLIPPING OUT
Pancake Tuesday 2023
Pancakes aren’t just for Tuesdays, but this Tuesday they most definitely are.
Here is the lowdown on where you can get FREE hot cakes for Pancake Tuesday and our take on where to get your pancake fix!
STELLA DINER
To celebrate Pancake Tuesday on 21st February, the Stella Diner in Rathmines will be giving out complimentary pancakes ALL DAY with toppings of icing sugar and maple syrup! The Stella Diner is Dublin’s home to truly authentic warm and fluffy American-style pancake stacks.
To claim your FREE pancake simply rock up to the Diner on Pancake Tuesday from 10:30am until we run out and you will be served a delicious pancake free of charge, no strong attached (but you might want to grab one of our drip coffees or shakes to go with your pancake!). Stella Diner head chef, Justin Ekwe, has been flipping pancakes for over five years now and has come up with his American-inspired secret recipe so it’s safe to say you’ll be getting a seriously scrumptious pancake AND everything tastes better when it’s free!
The Stella Diner is open daily, seven days a week with full bar, and amazing food from all day breakfast to American diner classics, and everything in between.
Stella Diner, 211 Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6.
@stelladiner
CAPTAIN AMERICAS
It’s one of our favourite days of the year at Captain Americas! The pancakes are on us this Tuesday at all Captain America’s locations in Grafton Street and Blanchardstown.
Enjoy FREE crepe pancakes with any main purchased all day on Tuesday 21st February.
Blanchardstown | Grafton Street
captainamericas.com
@captainamericasireland
And if you are on the hunt for the perfect pancakes served up with all the trimmings, look no further than these spots who will be flipping hot cakes all day!
MACKENZIE’S
Home to the iconic Pancake Platter, Mackenzie’s on Hanover Quay in Grand Canal Dock in Dublin will be serving up their famous platters all day this Tuesday 21st February. Normally only available at weekends, this is your chance to get your hands on this truly mammoth dish, consisting of a stack of fluffy American style pancakes, served with crispy bacon, fresh berries, raspberry coulis, vanilla mascarpone with Buckwud maple syrup, candied pecans & salted caramel sauce, topped with chocolate shavings. The famous dish is made for sharing, so grab your loved one and head down to Mackenzie’s for the ultimate pancake experience.
And for something a little different...
AMERICANA
Celebrate the launch of Americana’s new cocktail menu with a cocktail you won’t flippin’ believe! The Mate Ca is a concoction of Havana 3-Year-Old White Rum and inhouse made Blueberry cordial, garnished with a mini pancake! The question is, are you eating the pancake before or after you drink the cocktail?
@americanadublin
ENDS
For further information about any of the above, please contact laura@pressup.ie | 0838567665
About MediaHQ
Designed for PR and Communications teams, MediaHQ is the all-in-one media contacts database and press release distribution software with the mission to connect your story with your audience.
It was founded by entrepreneur Jack Murray in 2009. Our cutting-edge software is the best, fastest and most accurate way to find the right journalists, build media and pitch lists in seconds, send press releases and get results.
The comprehensive MediaHQ database lists the details of over 60,000 journalists and media outlets across Ireland and the UK and is full of time-saving features.
