With an innovative range of programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)’s Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music has built up a remarkable reputation for its high-flying graduates, across creative media, film and TV production, music, theatre and more.

One of those graduates is Jessica Doherty, who was among the winners at this year’s prestigious RTS Student Television Awards in London – taking home the Undergraduate Factual Long Form award for her documentary Walking the Labyrinth.

Walking The Labyrinth tells the story of artist Susan Farrelly, who was born in a Mother and Baby Institution in the late ‘60s, before being adopted. She now uses her art to “help construct her own identity”, and to help her in “the practice of healing”, as Jessica explains.

A recent graduate of DkIT’s BA (Hons) in Film and Television Production, Jessica previously won the course’s inaugural Dearbhla Walsh Award for Walking The Labyrinth, as the best 4th Year TV drama/documentary.

In response, Dearbhla – a renowned director, known for her work on Bad Sisters, The Handmaid’s Tale and more – has said she can’t wait to see what the award-winning rising star does next.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Jessica reflects. “I missed out on my first choice on my CAO, and wasn’t sure if I wanted to study in Dundalk. I’m from Dundalk, and I really wanted to go away to college. But when I got into the course I loved every aspect of it – from the photography and shooting on 35mm cameras, to directing and vision mixing in the television studio, to starting the process of understanding how to script a documentary.

“My plan is to stay in documentaries for the time being,” she adds, “but I am not ruling out fiction – and if I ever feel big and bold I may try a feature.”

Watch this space...

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