SEVERAL high achieving and resilient young people from Killarney were among the award recipients at this year’s Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards which were announced at a virtual ceremony last night.
The organisers honoured people, between the ages of 13 years and 21 years, who have made their mark in a positive way during these challenging times and they recognise the wonderful contributions young people make in their communities.
The award recipients included basketball star Emma Kerin from Scartaglen who won a special achievement award.
Emma was nominated St Mary’s basketball club in recognition of her great sporting achievements and she has exhibited great determination in anything she is faced. The special achievement award is presented to an individual who has overcome difficult circumstances, has defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition.
The overall winner was 21-year-old Amy Roche from Tralee who was nominated for the help and support she gives to a 10-year-old boy who is autistic.
Merit award winners included Rebecca Kenny, Katie O’Connor, Michelle Hickey and Ellen Farndon, St Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney, who took on a 100km 20-day challenge for Make-A-Wish Ireland and other Killarney winners were Emma Affonso, Adam Cronin, Ethan Slattery, Allison O’Sullivan and Rachel Griffin.
The virtual event featured online recordings of messages of congratulations and good wishes from a host of well-known personalities, including television presenters Brendan O’Connor, Mary Kennedy and Teresa Mannion, social media star Tadhg Fleming, author Billy Keane, radio presenter Dermor Whelan and Elma Walsh, mother of the late Donal who was a previous Garda Youth Award winner.
The Kerry Division of An Garda Síochána, in association with Lee Strand Milk, honoured people, between the ages of 13 years and 21 years, who have made their mark in a positive way during these challenging times.
Chief Superintendent of the Kerry Garda Division, Eileen Foster, acknowledged that it has been a difficult year for everybody but, perhaps, especially for young people.
“It is also a time that we give the best of ourselves and throughout this pandemic young people are giving back to their own communities through voluntary work, sport or educational achievements,” she said.
Chief Supt Foster said the Youth Achievement Awards give An Garda Síochána, an opportunity to engage with young people in a positive fashion and recognise these positive interactions for the betterment of the community as a whole.
Gearoid Linnane, CEO of Lee Strand, said the awards provide a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the young people of Kerry.
“Things are different this year but one thing that is the same are our fantastic youth who continue to make a positive impact within their local community,” he remarked.
