Young people from across Donegal have been recognised for their community contributions at the Donegal Garda Youth Awards.
The awards, hosted by the Donegal Joint Policing Committee, celebrated outstanding young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years. The awards recognised the good work being done by young people in every community in Donegal.
Winners were announced at a ceremony in County House, Lifford on Monday. Judge Paul Kelly, Chairperson of the Donegal Garda Youth Awards Adjudication Committee presented winners with their awards.
The Award Winners were as follows:-
- INDIVIDUAL AWARD – Rachel Mc Gee
- GROUP AWARD – Letterkenny Youthreach
- SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Jordan Boyle
- COMMUNITY SAFETY AWARD – Odhran O’Neill & Ruby Hurst
Rachel McGee with her Donegal Garda Youth Individual Award at the ceremony in the County House, Lifford yesterday. Pictured also are R-L Liam Ward, Director of Service, Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Chairperson, Donegal Joint Policing Committee, Superintendent Michael Finan, Judge Paul Kelly, Cllr Niamh Kennedy and members of An Garda Síochána, Donegal.
Letterkenny Youthreach representatives Richael Shiels and Lidia Kubinska, with their Donegal Garda Youth Group Award at the ceremony in the County House, Lifford yesterday. Pictured also are R-L Liam Ward, Director of Service, Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Chairperson, Donegal Joint Policing Committee, Superintendent Michael Finan, Judge Paul Kelly, Cllr Niamh Kennedy and members of An Garda Síochána, Donegal.
Jordan Boyle with his Donegal Garda Youth Special Achievement Award at the ceremony in the County House, Lifford yesterday. Pictured also are R-L Liam Ward, Director of Service, Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Chairperson, Donegal Joint Policing Committee, Superintendent Michael Finan, Judge Paul Kelly, Cllr Niamh Kennedy and members of An Garda Síochána, Donegal.
Odhran O’Neill with his Donegal Garda Youth Community Safety Award accepted on behalf of himself and Ruby Hurst at the ceremony in the County House, Lifford yesterday. Pictured also are R-L Liam Ward, Director of Service, Donegal County Council, Seamus Neely, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Chairperson, Donegal Joint Policing Committee, Superintendent Michael Finan, Judge Paul Kelly, Cllr Niamh Kennedy and members of An Garda Síochána, Donegal.
The winners will now represent the Donegal Division at the National Youth Awards which will take place in April 2019.
The Donegal Garda Youth Awards application process opened in November with nominations invited under four different Award Categories.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Chairperson, Donegal Joint Policing Committee, paid tribute to all of the nominees and said: “The Donegal Joint Policing Committee is delighted to be associated with this Award Scheme. The positive contribution that all of the nominees, particularly the award winners, have made should be commended and celebrated. By their efforts these young people had made an important and valuable contribution to the communities they live in.”
Superintendent Michael Finan stated that “An Garda Síochána in Donegal is delighted to facilitate the Garda Youth Awards for 2019 in conjunction with the Donegal Joint Policing Committee. The standard of nominations this year was extremely high. I wish to congratulate all those nominated and thank those who took the time to nominate the various groups and individuals.”
The nominees were as follows:-
Individual Award:
Rachel Mc Gee
Stephen O’ Donnell
Group Award:
Cycle Against Suicide Group – Errigal College
Letterkenny Youthreach
Aisling Murphy & Emma Murphy c/o Finn Valley Centre
Special Achievement Award:
Jordan Boyle
Hannah Harley
Dina Patton
Jason Patton
Community Safety Award:
Mark Bradley
Evan Gorrell
Odhran O’Neill & Ruby Hurst
