Traveller Pride award for Girl Guide Denise
Traveller Denise McDonnell from Navan was honoured at an awards ceremony in Dublin on 2nd December where she was awarded the Youth Traveller Pride Award. The award was one of 10 Traveller Pride Awards made in recognition of the achievements and contributions Travellers make to their own community and to Irish society across the island of Ireland. Denise won the award for her community work, particularly her involvement in the Girl Guides. The awards were held in Dublin's Button Factory and were attended by President Mary McAleese and former Ireland soccer manager, Brian Kerr. Hosted by RTE presenter, Anne Cassin, awards were made in the areas of education, arts/culture, music, enterprise, youth, sports, community, overall Traveller Pride 2010, innovative project and lifetime achievement. Ms McDonnell, who was presented with a beautifully-crafted cast bronze commemorative sculpture, said: “I'm delighted to get this award and I hope it motivates other people, Travellers and settled, from all backgrounds to get involved in the Girl Guides. 2011 will be the centenary year for the Girl Guide movement and lots of things are happening, it would be great for more children and adults to get involved as participants and leaders.†The awards marked the beginning of Traveller Pride Week which took place from 2nd-10th December. The aim of the week was to celebrate and showcase the positive contribution Travellers make to Irish society. Events are organised jointly with eight Traveller organisations, of which the Irish Traveller Movement is one. President Mary McAleese said: “The toughness of Traveller life could have ground down many a person but not the people we celebrate and recognise in these Traveller Pride awards. Their stories are exactly what we need to hear about at this difficult moment in Ireland's economic life. A lot of people are worried about money, jobs, uncertainty, and debt. They see that we have a big mountain of negativity to climb before things improve again. “Our awardees know this territory well for they have faced Everests of negativity, both in the settled community and even at times within their own community, but their courage never failed them because their vision never failed them. These men and women are exactly the kind of people we need right now for they are leaders, problem-solvers, the kind of people who refuse to become mere spectators when there is work to be done, mountains to be shifted so that the road ahead can be made easier for others.â€