Kiltale native Gaisce CEO welcomes President to first Gold Awards

Event marked 40 years of honouring young people

Kiltale native Avril Ryan, CEO of Gaisce – The President’s Award, welcomed President Catherine Connolly to her first Gaisce Gold Award Ceremony as President, which was a special event to mark 40 years of the award that celebrates remarkable achievements of young people in Ireland.

Some 50 young people were honoured from across the 32 counties, including Liam Nolan, a past student of St Mary's Diocesan School in Drogheda, at the event in the Royal Hospital, Kilmianham, Dublin, just before Christmas. Since 1985, more than 520,000 young people have taken part in Gaisce, contributing thousands of hours of voluntary service every year to their communities. Eighteen young people received their Awards through Gaisce’s access and inclusion pathways.

This year’s awardees have dedicated themselves to a wide range of skills and challenges including learning the harp, carpentry, researching cancer cells, participating in and volunteering at parkrun, volunteering in care homes, conservation initiatives, and sports coaching, finding adventure through hiking Irish and international tracks and trails, as well as exploring their leadership and relationship building abilities across all aspects of their award experiences. Awardees come from a diverse group of organisations, including young people from Northern Ireland (through the Joint Award Initiative), Scouting Ireland, volunteer centres, disability youth services, youth diversion projects, youth justice services, third level institutions, education training boards, community services and schools.

Gaisce’s vision is an Ireland where every young person, regardless of circumstance, can participate in The President’s Award. The organisation continues to champion inclusion and equality of access by delivering initiatives designed to remove barriers and broaden participation.

“Today, we come together to celebrate the dedication, resilience and spirit of our Gaisce Gold Award recipients," President Connolly said. "As patron of Gaisce, I am honoured to present today’s Awards for the first time, and celebrate the achievements of Ireland’s young people. In achieving the Gaisce Gold Award, every one of these young people have given up their time, energy and talents in service of their communities, and in the name of personal development, and has shown what it means to act with purpose. Each of their individual stories reminds us of the immense potential that lies within each and every one of us, no matter our circumstances.

“As we mark the 40th anniversary of Gaisce, let today remind us of the enduring power of inclusion and opportunity. Together, let us ensure that Gaisce continues to lift, inspire and empower, offering every young person in Ireland a chance to realise their potential and shine, to begin what will be, I hope, a lifetime of active and engaged citizenship."

Avril Ryan, daughter of Eileen and the late Liam Ryan, added: “I am delighted to celebrate the achievements of each and every young person being honoured today as they receive the Gaisce Gold Award.

“Today’s awardees have shown extraordinary determination, resilience and generosity as they worked towards their Gold Award. In earning Award, they have developed new skills, increased their confidence and made meaningful contributions to people and communities right across Ireland. I also want to extend a warm congratulations and thank you to President Connolly, as our new Award patron; we are delighted to have here to present the Gold Awards for the first time.”