Garda Youth Award winners announced

Garda Youth Award winners announced
Supported by Longford County Council and Roscommon County Council

Press Release
10 October 2022

This year’s Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards saw four individuals or groups recognised in their respective categories along with one special recognition award. The awards, which took place in Áras an Chontae, Roscommon, are supported by both Longford and Roscommon County Councils.

The initiative, now in its fourth year, acknowledge outstanding acts of courage and selflessness by young people in their respective communities. Category winners include the Individual Award, the Special Achievement Award, the Group Award and the Community Safety Award.

The first of the night’s award recipients was Adam Reddington in the individual category. Nominated by Fuerty GAA Club, Adam recently organised a fundraising run and walk in aid of Aoibheann’s Pink Tie and Childhood Cancer Foundation Ireland charities. Both organisations help the families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer.

The walk and run caught the attention of the whole of the entire communities of Fuerty, Castlecoote and Athleague, giving people an opportunity to get out and meet up for a walk or run. It also allowed local children and their families to realise we are not all fortunate to live healthy lives and to be aware of illness in others.

Through his selfless efforts, Adam has highlighted the ability of young people to overcome their own obstacles and to contribute to the whole community. Adam kept the online page up to date showing hundreds of young people in the area that there is an inbuilt goodness among his peers. To date, Adam’s fundraiser has currently raised over €24,400 for the chosen causes.

Group award recipients Michael Gillooly and Ava Mulry were recognised for their efforts in May 2019 when the Roscommon Gaels All Stars team was launched in Roscommon Town. This was a summer camp for children with additional needs, aged six years and older to kick a ball, swing a hurl, play and to have fun.

Throughout 2021 Michael and Ava volunteered every week, never missing a single camp. They played with all the children, working hard to ensure the children attending had a positive, fun experience. Both Michael and Ava were nominated by Oliver Moran.

Ava and Michael ensure children with special needs are facilitated to participate in Gaelic Games in a positive, fun way. They have removed barriers to participation, ensuring all these children are included in ways that best suit their needs and ultimately helps them reach their full potential.

Nominated by Garda Linda O’Connell of Longford Garda Station, Callum Clarke from Tulsk saved his grandad Sean from drowning. This followed an incident while both were out fishing after a gust of wind had turned a normal fishing trip into a rescue mission.

While out, Callum’s grandad lost his balance in the small fishing boat, falling from the boat. This caused the boat to capsize and Callum to jump out as Sean’s life jacket did not inflate compounding his inability to swim.

Callum saw a piece of timber that had come away from the boat and used it as a float to get Sean to safety. Undoubtedly his calm and fast thinking saved his grandfather from drowning.

Special Achievement Award recipient Geraldine Maughan suffered horrific injuries and required hospitalisation which affected both her physical and mental health. As a result she required support from a number of agencies to help her regain her personal, physical and mental strength.

Nominated by Anne Kenny of Foroige’s ‘Big Brother, Big Sister’ programme in Granard, Geraldine
recently completed the Darkness into Light and the Women's Mini Marathon. Currently she is training with the local Gaelic4Mothers&Others. She has also participated in the Gaisce President Awards which includes a community, physical and personal growth goals.

Geraldine has also engaged with Foroige's ‘Big Brother Big Sister programme’ and has helped out with her local tidy towns group, picking up litter or plant shrubs. This also helps her to start trusting people in her community and feel safe outdoors again.

Nominated by Joanna Casey in the community safety award category, members of County Longford’s Comhairle na nÓg participated in a pilot consultation with the members of Community Safety Initiative in Longford where were voiced their opinions on safety in County Longford.

The Local Community Safety Partnership is a new government initiative that brings different statutory services, voluntary and community sectors, local councillors, Gardaí and community members to work together and to tackle the safety issues affecting local communities.

This was the first consultation of its kind where young people from Longford got a chance to feedback their concerns and solutions directly to the government bodies. This opportunity has empowered their members to demand more attention being paid to their opinions as they are one of more vulnerable groups living in the community.

Category winners each received a glass trophy, a winner’s certificate and a €200 One for All gift voucher with the exception of any group recipient, who in such a case, received vouchers to the value of €400.

The judging panel for this year’s awards included Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern, Roscommon County Council Director of Services Fiona Ní Chuinn, An Garda Síochána Inspector David Cryan, RTÉ Midlands Correspondent Sinead Hussey and Roscommon Senior Footballer Cathal Cregg.

Master of Ceremonies at this year’s awards was Inspector David Cryan with Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon, Superintendent Fran Nicholson of Roscommon Garda Station and Superintendent Seamus Boyle of Longford Garda Station also in attendance.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern extended congratulation to all winners and paid tribute to all involved. “I wish to congratulate each and every award winner here at the Garda Youth Awards. They all show great bravery, selflessness, care towards others and initiative in making their communities a better place. They are an example to us all.

“I would also like to thank Roscommon County Council for hosting this year’s awards, as well as An Garda Síochána for their continued hard work and dedication to their communities in Longford, Roscommon and all across the country. It is an honour to represent Longford County Council who support such a fantastic event celebrating our young people and how they continue to improve our communities.”

Roscommon County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Tom Crosby added, “I would like to warmly congratulate all tonight’s award recipients. Your courage, dedication and selflessness is something to be greatly admired and valued. You have also enhanced the lives of your families and friends in a way that you can scarcely appreciate.

“Members of An Garda Siochana show tremendous leadership and discretion in the execution of their roles. Many children and young adults, often affected by addiction or from dysfunctional backgrounds, have been supported by Gardaí in a proactive, rather than reactive way, often helping to turn around the life of a troubled teenager.

“In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the role of both Roscommon County Council and Longford County Council in supporting these prestigious awards. I trust tonight’s award winners will further inspire their peers to do good and reach out beyond themselves in support of others.”

ENDS

All media queries should be directed to the Longford County Council Communications Officer via mediaenquiries@longfordcoco.ie or by calling 043 334 4217.