The inaugural Cavan/Monaghan Garda Divisional Youth Awards, took place on Thursday February 20, at Hotel Kilmore, in Cavan, where 16 individuals and groups were honoured with awards in recognition of the positive contribution they have been making in their communities.
The aim of the awards is to celebrate and acknowledge young people aged between 13 and 21 and to recognise the very positive contribution that they are making in their communities in Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
This is the first time the awards event has been held in the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division.
Entertainment was provided on the night by the An Garda Síochána Band led by Inspector Pat Kenny, and singers Garda Charles Kavanagh, and Garda Pat Lacken who is stationed in Cavan.
Assistant Commissioner for the North Western Garda Region, Barry O’Brien was in attendance along with senior members of local Garda Management, and representatives from SuperValu as the main sponsors of the event.
There were four award categories and those selected in each category received an award on the night. The award categories are as follows: An individual award for a person who is making a positive contribution to their community; a Group Award which recognises a group that is making a positive contribution to their community; A Community Safety Award which recognises an individual/group that is making their community a safer place to live; and a Special Achievement Award in acknowledgement of commitment that deserves recognition.
At the event Assistant Commissioner Barry O’Brien said, "I am delighted to be here at this extraordinary event which recognises such fantastic young people. All of us gathered here tonight can take a good deal of comfort in the fact that these young people are paving the way for the next generation. They have developed skills and attributes that the people of Cavan and Monaghan can be proud of”.
"The people of Cavan and Monaghan should feel a sense of enormous pride in respect of the work these young people have been doing in their communities, and it is also a humbling experience for those present to hear of the tremendous work and achievements that these young people, who are aged between 13 and 21, have made. "They are wonderful ambassadors for their communities and their generation. I have no doubt these individuals will excel in whatever they pursue in life”.
"I would also like to thank the local organisers of the event here in the Cavan and Monaghan Garda Division who have been the driving force behind these awards. I’d like to pay particular mention to Inspector Niall McKiernan and Inspector Kenneth Coughlan, and the Juvenile Liaison Officers Garda Pat Merrick and Garda Edel Gilliland who have done great work on this event,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.
Eoghan Jones, Regional Manager of Supervalu Stores in Cavan and Monaghan said, "It is important that these young people are noticed and recognised by their peers and their communities for what they have done. Supervalu is delighted to come on board as sponsors to ensure that was done”.
The five winners in the individual awards category were: Katie O’Neill from Carrickmacross County Monaghan; Conan O’Neill from Scothouse, County Monaghan; Joshua Moore from Rockcorry, County Monaghan; Rhiannon Smith from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan; and Katie Cooney from Bailieboro County Cavan.
The five winners in the group awards category were: Colman Clarke and Colm Birmingham from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; Teach na nDaoine Summer Camp Volunteers from Monaghan; Silver Fins Special Abilities Swim Club, Bailieboro County Cavan; Traveller Culture and Awareness Group Beech Hill College, Monaghan and The Buddies from Jumping Jellybeans Afterschool from Virginia County Cavan.
A presentation is to be made in the coming days to group winners from the Traveller Culture and Awareness Group in Beech Hill College Monaghan, who were unable to make the awards night on Thursday.
In the Special Achievement category there were a further five winners: Lilav Mohomad Clones, County Monaghan; Francis Balmer Junior Glaslough, County Monaghan; Renee Nolan Clones County Monaghan; Shane Farrelly Bailieborough County Cavan; and Ellie Flanagan Bailieborough, County Cavan.
The winner in the Community Safety Awards the Transition Year Students from Patrician High School, Carrickmacross, County Monaghan.
Overall winners in each category will be selected by a judging panel after tonight’s awards event and these will go forward to a selection process for the National Garda Youth Awards event which takes place later this year.
Ref: PR12627/2020 Note to Editor:
Photos of the award winners are available from the Cavan Monaghan Garda Division Facebook Page at https://tinyurl.com/tnd9p29
Citations for all winners are attached to this press release.
