Issue Date: 22/11/2025
This afternoon, An Garda Síochána held its annual National Garda Youth Awards which recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community. This year’s event took place at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise and acknowledged the remarkable contributions of 25 recipients, representing Garda Divisions including Kildare/Carlow, Galway, Wexford, Kerry, Dublin, Cork County, Sligo/Leitrim, Limerick, Meath/Westmeath and Donegal.
Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, opened the ceremony, while Guest of Honour Miriam O’Callaghan introduced each award category.
Guest speaker, 2025 International Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, was interviewed by Miriam O’Callaghan during the ceremony. Garda National Youth Award 2025 – 25 recipients as selected by a national panel: (The citations for each of these recipients is attached).
Community Safety Award• Foroige Youth Cafe Ballymote - Sligo/Leitrim • Manel Mestour, Talk About Youth Project - Dublin South Central • Young Social Innovators, St. Leo’s College (secondary school) - Kildare/Carlow • Dungarvan CBS TY Group - Waterford • Colaiste Mhuire, Transition Year Students - Meath/Westmeath
Group Awards • Moise Hazachiu & Emanuel Andronache – Dublin North Central • Kerala Badminton – Dublin North • Crosscare Youth Diversion Programme (YDP) Friday Group – Dublin West • Connemara Youth Intergenerational Volunteers – Galway • Tomás, Gearóid & Micheál O’Sullivan, Marcus Leahy & Cillian O’Sullivan - Galway
Individual Awards• Lee McCabe – Dublin West • Philip Yeates – Wexford • Jack Sweeney – Galway • Rebecca O’Sullivan – Kerry • Terry Casey – Limerick • Amy Van Der Merwe - Sligo/Leitrim
Special Achievement • Sean McCabe – Dublin South Central • Kate Hoskins – Dublin West • Rihanna Reynolds – Donegal • Cormac Downey – Limerick • Bakhtyar Nabi – Cork County • Abbie Duff – Dublin North
Special Recognition Award• Naoise Quinn and AilÍse O’ Sullivan – Cork County • Paddy Boyle – Donegal • Conor & Gary O’Sullivan – Kerry Speaking at today’s ceremony, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, said; "All of today’s nominees and award recipients are to be commended for their dedication and commitment.
"An Garda Síochána is delighted to be able to publically recognise their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm. Our communities are seeing the benefit of the contribution they are making. Each winner here today represents the very best of what young people in our communities can achieve. They are all inspirational.”
