The creative world was out in force last weekend as the annual Shark Advertising Awards took place in Kinsale. Entrants were whittled down from thousands of submissions across three categories – promo, broadcast and - for the first time ever - print.

The best of the Irish broadcast category were Publicis QMP who won 5 Sharks including 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze; Cawley Nea TBWA also took home 5 (1 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Diplomas); McCann Erickson with 1 Bronze and DDFH&B with a Diploma.

Irish agencies which won print awards were Owens DDB with two silver and three bronze and Publicis QMP with one silver and three bronze. Cawley Nea and McConnells won a bronze Shark each.
RTÉ scooped an outstanding 14 Sharks (2 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze) at the weekend; while the German-based Creation Club took home 4 Silver Sharks and 2 Bronze. BBC Northern Ireland also took home 2 Gold Sharks and 2 Silver for their entries and Red Bee Media left Kinsale with 3 Gold and 1 Silver.

A first for the 46 year old festival was the introduction of the Agency of the Year Award, which was awarded to Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO in London.

Guest speakers this year included Richard O’Brien, the acclaimed writer and creator of the Rocky Horror Show and presenter of The Crystal Maze. Paul Burke, the most highly awarded radio script writer was also present at the festival where attendees could take part in workshops presented by him.

Courtesy of IMJ / AdWorld