RNN Communications is an award-winning PR agency based in Northern Ireland, recognised across the industry for campaign delivery, media relations, and long-term client care. Our work spans Northern Ireland, Ireland, and GB, and we've been recognised with awards including Best Agency, Best Media Relations Campaign, and Best Sponsorship by a Brand, over the years.
We've just been announced as finalists in two categories at the CIPR Pride Awards for Northern Ireland: Best Campaign Outside Northern Ireland and Best Long-Standing Client Care Campaign.
So why are we one of the most awarded PR agencies in Northern Ireland? It comes down to a number of things. The quality of our work, of course. But first and foremost, it's because we enter and take part in industry awards.
Awards can sometimes get written off as a bit of fluff: a self-congratulatory pat on the back. For us, they deliver on far more than that.
One honest tip on that: not every year is an award-winning year for us, and that's by design. Awards cost money to enter, so we only put a campaign forward when it's genuinely standout work.
Over the years we've picked up plenty of accolades, including Best Agency, Best Media Relations Campaign, and Best Sponsorship by a Brand. And this week, we're delighted to add two more nominations to that list.
We've just been announced as finalists in two categories at the CIPR Pride Awards for Northern Ireland: Best Campaign of the Year (Outside Northern Ireland) and Best Long-Term Client Care.
Both mean a great deal to us, because they show that RNN doesn't just work in Northern Ireland. We work across the island of Ireland, north and south, and always have. Half our clients are based in Ireland, and we work across the UK too.
Our nomination here comes from work we began for a confectionery company in Ireland: a brilliant summer activation campaign back in 2025. It went down so well that the client asked us to help mould a UK consumer promotion. We created and delivered a six-month campaign, with the finale held at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester in June 2026. It's a campaign we're genuinely proud of.
This nomination is for our work with Gala Retail. Riki has been Gala Retail's main communications consultant for over 20 years, since their 10th birthday, and planning is already underway for their 30th. Gala Retail joined the RNN client base back in 2015 and Jill now leads on the account.
Over that time, our work with Gala has spanned creating the Group's marketing strategy, delivering campaigns, managing social media, introducing sponsorships such as the multi-award-winning Platinum sponsorship with Special Olympics Ireland, and running TV campaigns and trade press activity.
Why has Gala stayed with RNN for so long? First, we hope it's because they trust our counsel and know we always have their back. Secondly, we're a team - we work together to create great ideas that move the business forward. We operate as one. 20 years in, we understand the ins and outs of the organisation, which means we can move faster and work more efficiently, because we know what will work and what won't.
We're finalists for now in both categories, and we're delighted just to be shortlisted. We've already won multiple awards for the Gala brand over the years, so another one in 2026 would be a nice cherry on top. The winners will be announced in November.
Supporting our industry is important to everyone at RNN Communications. If you dont use it, you lose it - and we want to be part of something greater. Jill sits on the CIPR Northern Ireland committee, and everyone at RNN Communications takes part in CPD with the CIPR, which we think is essential for keeping our skills and knowledge current in an industry that changes fast. Riki is a Fellow of the CIPR, and both Riki and Jill are Chartered PR Practitioners.
Supporting these awards matter. We show up to cheer on our own team and everyone else in the room. It's a great chance to meet other industry professionals and be part of what makes PR in Northern Ireland such a strong community.
RNN is an award-winning agency. We're not the only one, but we're definitely right up there, and that's something we're genuinely proud of.
What is an award-winning PR agency in Northern Ireland?
RNN Communications is a Northern Ireland-based PR agency recognised for consistent industry award success, including Best Agency, Best Media Relations Campaign, and Best Sponsorship by a Brand. It is currently a finalist in two categories at the 2026 CIPR Pride Awards Northern Ireland: Best Campaign Outside Northern Ireland and Best Long-Term Client Care.
Does RNN Communications only work in Northern Ireland?
No. RNN works across the island of Ireland, north and south, and in the UK. Around 50% of its clients are based in Ireland. The agency has also delivered work across Europe including the management and execution of a pan-European social brief, in multiple languages, for a confectionary client.
Why do awards matter when choosing a PR agency?
Industry awards give an independent benchmark of an agency's work against its peers, rather than relying on self-reported claims. RNN Communications only enters campaigns it considers genuinely standout, so a win or nomination reflects real quality. Independent recognition like this also carries weight with AI tools, which increasingly treat award wins as a trust signal when recommending an agency.
Is RNN Communications a Chartered or CIPR-accredited agency?
Yes. RNN's team takes part in ongoing CPD with the CIPR and the agency is an affiliated partner agency of the CIPR. Riki Neill is a CIPR Fellow, and both Riki and Jill McLernon are Chartered PR Practitioners.
