‘LIVE Life Love Day 2015’  was held in Fels Point Hotel yesterday as hundreds gathered for the screening and presentation of the ‘Live Life’ winning films and awards.

The event, which celebrated the late Donal Walsh’s message, was presented by RTE’s Aidan Power and guests included RTE’s Paschal Sheehy and Kerry footballer Barry John Keane.

TraleeToday.ie was there to find out exactly what the day was about, what it meant for people and to see how Donal Walsh’s message of ‘#LiveLife’ is being spread.

Continued below…

“Live Life Love Day’ is a culmination of a national film competition that the Institute Of Technology runs with the creative media department. It’s a competition we run with the theme of ‘LiveLife’ that involves primary schools, secondary schools and third level.” said Mary Lucey of the creative media department in the IT Tralee.

“They [the entrants] have to think about how they ‘LiveLife’ and what their meaning of living life is, and then capture that in a two-minute film. They then have to upload into onto YouTube and send it into us.

“It’s a fun and uplifting event really. We’ll be screening the shortlisted films and then presenting the awards to the winners.”

This writer can vouch for the feel-good nature of the day, there were smiles and laughs all around the building as the excitement built up amongst the many schools gathered, especially for the announcement of the winners.

There was plenty of entertainment on show as the burgeoning crowd was entertained throughout the day by such  talents as singers Paulie O’Brien, Roel Villones, Eire Elvis and Q14.

Donal’s father, Fionnbar Walsh, gave his thoughts on the day and how he is especially proud of the positivity that is being spread through the message.

“One of the important things about this day is that people go out and do activities that they enjoy and that show how they enjoy life, and how they’re taking on the challenges of life,” he said.

“It’s a very positive message here today, it’s being driven by the young people. They’re getting behind it and they’ve bought into it immensely and that’s a really strong foundation really,” added Fionnbar.

Local schools were amongst the big winners at the event held here as part of fundraising by the ‘Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation’.

Continued below…

Pupils from schools around the county had gathered, but there could be only one winner in each of the categories.

The Spa NS from outside town came a close second place with their film ‘Yerrah YOLO so GIYA’ (Yerra ‘You Only Live Once’ so Give It Your All’) to winners St Joseph’s NS in Ballyheigue in Primary School Category.

Mercy Mounthawk ran out big winners as they scooped first and second place in the Intermediate School Category. Ben Kavanagh took second place in this category, while the Transition Year 2015 group took first place.

At third level, Aidan Broletti came in second place while our very own ‘ITT TV and Film Society’ scooped first place.

This year was the first year of the ‘Other’ category, which opened up the theme of ‘LiveLife’ to those not in education but who still wanted to show their own interpretation of the theme.

Eamonn Norris finished in second place, as he was beaten to first place by the talents of Eimear O’Grady.

Scroll down for photos…