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Donegal Town journalist Aoife Breslin has been honoured with Croatia’s Golden Pen Award, known locally as the Zlatna Penkala.
Based in Dublin and writing for the Lonely Planet, Aoife was recognised for her work on an article exploring Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. The evocative travel feature brought readers on a journey from must-see tourist hotspots such as Diocletian’s Palace to a rural olive oil producer, from luxury hotels to ancient ruins, and her personal highlight, kayaking on the pristine waters of the Adriatic.
She was thrilled to return to Croatia to pick up the prestigious award.
“The ceremony is held in a different location each year, and this year it took place in the beautiful town of Novigrad, in the Istria region,” she tells Donegal Live.”
“The whole affair is three days long, with a number of events leading up to the main ceremony. It was an incredible experience connecting with fellow journalists from around the world who were also there to receive awards in their respective categories.”
This award is organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board, and recognises journalists from around the world for their contributions to the travel industry over the past year.
“There are several categories presented at the ceremony, including Best Radio Reportage, Best Print Reportage, Best Television Reportage, and more,” explains Aoife. “I was awarded in the Online Reportage category for an article I wrote for Lonely Planet last year, which explored Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.”
Aoife says she feels very honoured to have been chosen.
“It truly feels incredible to have been selected as one of this year’s Golden Pen Award winners,” she says. “Having only started working in travel journalism just over a year ago, being recognised for my writing at this stage in my career means a lot to me.
“Of course, it is all thanks to my amazing team at Lonely Planet. They’ve given me the opportunity to explore the world and share stories from incredible destinations.
“People always tell me I must have the best job in the world – and in moments like this, it truly feels like I do.”