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Springboard Communications has been named PRCA Agency of the Year at the 2025 Spotlight Awards for Excellence in Communications.
It is the second time the independent communications agency has been recognised with the national award, having previously won it in 2023.
The PRCA awarded Springboard Communications or its people-first approach, long-standing client relationships, and commitment to purpose-led growth. Judges also commended the agency’s B Corp certification and dedication to innovation.
The agency's client manager, Chloe Kavanagh, also took home the Rising Star award for her achievements in digital strategy and client leadership, along with her forward-thinking vision for the communications profession.
“Winning PRCA Agency of the Year once was an incredible honour — winning it twice is truly special." said Susie Horgan, founder and managing director of Springboard Communications.
"It reflects the commitment and ingenuity our team brings to every project. Over the past year, we’ve evolved our model, deepened client partnerships and helped shape a more purposeful future for communications.
"I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and grateful to our clients for their continued trust.”
Irish success at Cannes Lions
Irish agencies Dentsu, Droga5 Dublin, Publicis Dublin and Thinkhouse have all won awards at the 2025 Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
Dentsu, Publicis and Thinkhouse took home three Silver and two Bronze Lions for Heineken's 'Pub Succession' campaign, which launched a global recruitment effort to help one retiring Irish publican keep his family name above the pub door.
The Silver Lions were awarded for Outdoor, Media, and Brand Experience & Activation, and the Bronzes were both in the Direct category.
The campaign was also shortlisted for the coveted Titanium Award which honours groundbreaking work in branded communications.
Heineken's 'Pub Museums' campaign returned for a second year and won a Bronze Lion for Media.
Droga5 won a Silver in Media and Bronze in Creative Strategy for its 'The 26th Minute' campaign for Samaritans Ireland.
The hyper-targeted audio campaign reached potential volunteers, specifically those who could listen for 26 minutes, the average Samaritans call length, through podcast ads, live events, and sports broadcasts.
Folk VML was shortlisted in the Creative Commerce category for 'The Ecosaver Mortgage' campaign for Bank of Ireland.
TBWA\Ireland taps Murray to lead FEED
TBWA\Ireland has promoted Andrew Murray to managing director of FEED by TBWA.
Murray joined TBWA\Ireland in 2017 and has been central to the agency's transition into digital marketing, leading the launch of FEED by TBWA last year.
Since then feed has delivered work for clients such as Dalata, Eir, Tourism Northern Ireland, Glenveagh, Chadwicks, Burger King, AIB, Denny, BPM Energy, BestDrive and Optimum Nutrition.
Commenting on his new role, Murray said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built so far.
“The work, the team’s ambition led by Luke [Head of Digital, Social & Content], and the momentum we have going into the second half of 2025 is hugely exciting.
“Our aim is to build brands, grab attention and drive performance through Disruption® on every single FEED, everyday.
“The results speak for themselves: increased independent brand scores; assisted revenue performance for our clients – delivering an average increase of 23% since partnering with them.
“For others, we're consistently achieving a Return On Ad Spend (ROAS) of 18:1, approximately four times the industry average for similar campaigns.”
Connelly Partners appoints Murphy deputy MD
Advertising agency Connelly Partners has appointed Jimmy Murphy as deputy managing director.
The company said in a statement: "Jimmy brings over 25 years of industry experience to this new role.
"Alongside managing director Vaunnie McDermott, Jimmy will play a key part in continuing the strong recent growth of Connelly Partners in Ireland."
Murphy has previously worked at Publicis Dublin and The Hive, where he held shareholding directorships. He most recently served as chief commercial officer at ACNE Dublin, part of Deloitte Digital.
He is a former board member of CopyClear, ensuring compliance for alcohol brand marketing across Ireland. Additionally, Murphy is a former chair of the Marketing Society and a past president of IAPI.
“Connelly Partners is an agency that embodies the values I’ve always championed throughout my career: integrity, curiosity, and empathy," said Murphy.
"Their impressive growth and portfolio of work are a solid foundation and I’m excited to contribute to the agency’s continued success.
"This is an exciting time and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”
White Diamond Events secures global ticketing partnership
Irish-founded, Chicago-based White Diamond Events has announced a major global ticketing partnership that will provide clients with exclusive access to sold-out concerts, sporting fixtures, and live events worldwide.
Founded by Irish entrepreneur Dearbhla Meaney in 2009, the company initially operated across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe before officially relocating its headquarters to Chicago in early 2024.
Since then, White Diamond Events has quickly established itself in the US market, producing high-profile experiences such as the inaugural Irish Village Market on Michigan Avenue for St. Patrick’s Day and delivering corporate events for notable clients, including Crain Communications.
The new partnership with a leading international ticketing platform is set to significantly expand the company’s offering, enabling them to provide highly coveted tickets to events across sports, music, theatre, and comedy, regardless of whether they are sold out to the general public.
“In the world of client entertainment, few things make a bigger impact than being the one with access to the ‘golden tickets’ no one else can get,” the company said in a statement announcing the deal.
“With our expert service and new global reach, you’ll now be able to entertain, impress, and outshine the competition.”
White Diamond Events is also working closely with several Irish tour operators in the lead-up to the much-anticipated Ireland vs All Blacks rugby rematch at Soldier Field later this year.
The company is managing end-to-end experiences, including airport transfers, VIP suites, and premium hospitality packages.
Eir advert uses clever metaphor to show benefits of better broadband
Every week, Amárach and Future Proof Insights share exclusive findings from their PRIZM+ ad testing service, showcasing best practice creative advertising in Ireland.
Eir’s “Wide-Fi” campaign tackles a modern frustration that almost every household can relate to: too many people using too little bandwidth.
It dramatises the problem through a clever spatial metaphor, walls literally expanding as connectivity improves, and aims to resolve everyday tech tension with a sense of calm, control and space.
From a strategic perspective, the creative leans into family realism while visually elevating the emotional benefit of better broadband.
The transformation from a cramped, noisy living room into a peaceful, spacious home is immediate and easy to follow. This is not about abstract tech specs, it’s about creating a better home environment.
To read more on this advert, CLICK HERE.
Photo: Pictured centre is Managing Director at Springboard Communications, Susie Horgan with (l-r) Anthony Malone, Chloe Kavanagh, Ciara Flaherty, Sarah Horgan and Maria Tracey. (Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
