PHOTOS: 'Nice to be recognised' Laois winners help launch Garda Youth Awards

Laois Offaly Gardaí have launched their search for nominations to the division's 2026 Garda Youth Awards, giving recognition to teens and young adults making a real difference in their communities, or overcoming trials in their young lives. The awards were launched in the Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise with sponsor Pat McDonagh of Supermac's, a host of local Gardaí and three past award winners. Full story below photos.

Pat McDonagh of Supermac's who sponsor the Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards, with Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan at the launch on January 14 of the 2026 awards.

Anyone who knows a young person who has shown leadership, kindness, resilience or community spirit and is worthy of recognition, is now able to nominate them and help celebrate their achievements.

Superintendent Brian Farrell told the Leinster Express why they hold the annual awards.

“These awards are extremely important. They acknowledge the work that young people are doing in the community.

“Young people can sometimes get a bad rep but there’s huge potential there, people who are helping their communities, helping their families, just really really good young people and it’s important to recognise them,” he said.

He is urging people to make their nominations now, for youths they think deserve to be applauded, aged between 13 and 21.

“They mightn’t think it’s the right place but just nominate them. We’d really be encouraging as many nominations as we can get,” Supt Farrell said

One of the past winners of the Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards is Holly Ogilvie from Durrow.

Now aged 20, she won the award in 2023, for competing in the Irish Kayaking team, and for her contribution to the Laois Kayak and Canoe Club, and for growing the numbers of women and juniors in sport.

Holly was put forward for the Garda Youth award by club members.

“It was really nice to get some recognition, it encourages me to keep going. My dad Brian told me I had been nominated and then I got the invite to the awards night. I was away so my brother picked up my award. It’s nice to come back here for the launch to see what I missed,” Holly told the Leinster Express at the launch.

She also works in Castle Durrow in the bar and restaurant to pay her way.

“It’s hard to balance everything. I was competing during my Leaving Cert year, in America,” said Holly.

Impressive Holly is a Maths and Economics student in the University of Limerick, for whom she also kayaks competitively.

She has also won the Paddy McHugh award in first year for her contribution to sport in UL. She will represent UL in Wales this January for White Water Week followed by Varsities competitions in Trinity College. She is training to be a kayak instructer with her Laois club.

“I’m planning to head to Millau in France for the Natural Games and the freestyle world cup in June this year, so I’m training hard for that,” she said.

Another past recipient is Rachel Fennelly, aged 20 who also won when she was aged 18. A student in Scoil Chríost Rí, Rachel also works as a receptionist in the Maldron Hotel.

The Portlaoise teen is a member of Laois Civil Defence and was nominated by the CD Officer, Damien Dollard.

“I won the individual award for my work in the community and in Civil Defence.

“It's nice not only for me but for Laois Civil Defence to get recognised for the work we do.

“It's good for young people to see others in the Civil Defence. It opens the door. You don't have to have a profession or a degree, you just have to have an interest and you will be trained,” Rachel said.

Also present at the awards was past winner Mattie Doyle, who volunteers with Youth Work Ireland Laois.

Pat McDonagh is founder and owner of Supermac's Ireland and also owner of the So group that includes the Killeshin Hotel. He sponsors the Garda Youth Awards in a handful of counties including Laois and Offaly and explained why.

“It’s recognition of young people who can get a lot of criticism for this and that.

“A lot of them are quite high achievers and given the opportunity, they will achieve as much as anyone else.

“It’s great to see young people involved in sport, or social activities so we’re delighted to sponsor it. It’s recognition of the effort they have put in,” Mr McDonagh said.

He said that about 70% of his employees are aged under 20.

“That’s the way the business is. They are part time staff who are going to college or secondary school.

“Generally it’s their first job. You see how they change from when they come in to when they graduate. Sometimes they are shy and lacking confidence, two or three years later you see a massive difference.

“They learn to deal with people, to mix with their own agegroup which is compensating for Covid, and to deal with the fact that not everyone is nice and to deal with those difficult situations, that’s something you’ll never learn in college,” the Supermac's boss said.

Gardaí at the launch included Laois Offaly Chief Superintendent Anthony Lonergan, Superintendent Brian Farrell, Inspector Joe Culliton, Detective Inspector Jane Ryan and Garda members from the Community Engagement areas in Laois and Offaly.

Supermac’s who continue to support the Laois/Offaly Garda Youth Awards since 2018 were represented by Pat McDonagh, Managing Director of Supermac’s; Una Tuohy General Manager at Killeshin Hotel and Padraic O’Neachtain.

HOW TO NOMINATE

The Garda Youth Awards celebrate the contributions of young people, both individually and as part of groups. Nominations are now open across four award categories:
Individual award: Making a positive contribution to their community, making it a better place to live.
Group award: Groups of two or more, making a positive contribution to their community and making it a better place to live.
Special achievement award: Has overcome difficult circumstances, defied all the odds, and whose commitment deserves recognition.
Community safety award: Through a crime prevention or safety initiative or innovation, has made their community a safer place to live.
Nominations may be made by individuals, community and voluntary groups, schools, youth groups or other organisations. The closing date is Friday, February.
The application form and further information on how to nominate are available HERE and on the Laois Offaly Garda Facebook page and at www.garda.ie
Completed forms can be emailed to lo.gardayouth awards@garda.ie or dropped to your local Community Policing Garda at Portlaoise, station.
A judging panel will select winners to be celebrated at a special event March 26 in the Killeshin Hotel.