Nominations sought for Laois/Offaly Garda Youth Awards

THE Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise was the setting for the launch of this year’s Garda Youth Awards drive, a programme which has been running since 2019 in a national capacity, and which celebrates and recognises young people who have made a positive impact on their communities. The event is once again supported by sponsor Pat McDonagh of Supermac’s, SO Hotel and Killeshin Hotel Garda Youth Awards. The age bracket it recognises are those between 13-21 years.

There are four categories ‒ individual award: making a positive contribution to their community by making it a better place to live; group award: groups of two or more making a positive contribution to their community and making it a better place to live; special achievement award: has overcome difficult circumstances, defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition; and community safety award: through a crime prevention or safety initiative or innovation, has made their community a safer place to live.

Among those in attendance to mark the launch were several members of the Laois-Offaly Garda Division ‒ chief supt Anthony Lonergan, supt Brian Farrell, insp Joe Culliton, det insp Jane Ryan and garda members from the community engagement areas in Laois and Offaly. Supermac’s was represented by Pat McDonagh.

Also in attendance were three previous winners of the local youth awards ‒ Rachel Fennelly from Laois Civil Defence, Holly Ogilive from Laois Kayak and Canoe club and Mattie Doyle, Youth Work Ireland Laois Speaking exclusively to the Laois Nationalist, Mattie Doyle cut right to the spirit of the awards, describing his work volunteering with young people in Laois as ‘‘Giving a hand to the people, the same way that people gave me a hand when I was young.’’ On winning the award, Mattie said that it ‘‘impacted me massively, especially now with a lot of the kids looking up to me, and, to me, that's massive, especially as I used to look up to the volunteers when I was young.’’ The gardaí advise the public that if they know a young person who has shown leadership, kindness, resilience or community spirit that you should recognise their efforts with a nomination. Nominations can be made by individuals, community and voluntary groups, schools, youth groups or other organisations. The closing date for nominations is Friday 20 February.

The application form and further information on how to nominate is available through the Laois-Offaly Garda Division Facebook page and at www.garda.ie or by following the QR code.

Completed forms should be emailed to lo.gardayouthawards@garda.ie or dropped into your local community policing garda at Portlaoise, Tullamore or Birr garda stations.

Nominees will be submitted to a judging panel who will select the winners in each category. The award winners will be celebrated at a special event on 26 March in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise.