Why the inspirational young people of Laois were honoured at Laois Offaly awards

A variety of groups and individuals in Laois were recognised for their achievements in the community at the Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards.

The following are the citations which show that they were deserving recipients. 

Mountmellick TidyTowns Teen 

Mountmellick Tidy Towns Teen Group are our Group award winners who were nominated by Barbara Lawlor of Mountmellick Tidy Towns. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The group comprises of Sophie Gorman, Rebecca Gorman and Sophia Fallon who have all been actively involved with the Tidy Towns Group since the beginning of 2022. The Owenass River walk is the backbone of Mountmellick town it leads to the playground and park and is used by most of the residents of the town, the girls have been instrumental in the constant upkeep and maintenance of the river walk.

 Each week they weed, litter pick, sweep and cut back brambles ensuring that others get to use and enjoy this great local amenity, when not out maintaining the river walk the girls can be seen around town planting, weeding and watering flowers. 

These young people use their own initiative to get involved and to come out and work to help Mountmellick Tidy Towns achieve their goals. They take great pride in the town they live in and are an inspiration to us all.

 They have breathed new life into what was self-described as an older group, the members feel they’re constantly learning from the girls.  

Holly Ogilvie

Holly Ogilvie is an individual award winner who was nominated by Charlotte Fitzpatrick of the Laois Kayak and Canoe Club. 

Holly is a member of the Laois Kayak and Canoe Club based in Durrow. Holly competes at the highest level representing Ireland in freestyle kayaking where she is currently ranked 8th in the world, she has also retained her position on the Irish team for 2023 and has qualified for the World Championships in Columbus, USA later this year. 

Holly is extremely passionate about Kayaking she dedicates her time to not only introducing the community of Durrow to her sport but helping them to enjoy themselves while learning. 

During the 2022 Durrow Scarecrow Festival Holly was involved in giving beginner Kayak lessons to over 300 adults and children, she was particularly focused on getting hesitant teenage girls involved. Holly is involved in Canoeing Ireland’s national volunteer programme called “Bridge the Gap” where she is an ambassador for female participation and the promotion of paddle sports to women. 

Holly’s own club has for the first time recorded over 50% of female membership this was in no small part down to Holly’s tremendous achievements. Holly has a “can do” attitude which is infectious, those around her can’t but help absorb her positively and love for her sport. 

Her leadership skills in and out of the water helps bring out the best in people, she instils a sense of pride and belonging to the community.  

Sean Ryan

Sean was nominated by his mother, Niamh, for an Individual Award. She describes him as a very kind and thoughtful young man. Sean has a twin brother, Liam, who has severe disabilities and complex medical needs. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Sean is always thinking of his brother and of ways he can help him and make his life better. Sean is in second year in St Mary’s CBS in Portlaoise and his English teacher asked him to do audio recordings of children’s books for children who are learning English.

 These audio books were sent to primary schools in Laois and Sean asked if they could be sent to Kolbe Special School, where his brother Liam attends, as the children there would also benefit from the audiobooks. 

Sean has never been shy or embarrassed to speak about his brother and his disabilities and challenges. This has helped his friends and fellow students to have a better understanding and to be more acceptable of people with disabilities. He has also been involved in several fundraisers for Kolbe Special School and Laura Lynn Foundation. 

Sean is a wholly deserving recipient for this award and he is an inspiration to us all. The judging panel were delighted to declare Sean Ryan an individual award winner 2023

Tony McInerney and Dolly Nevin

Tony and Dolly were nominated by Jules Fitzpatrick of Laois Travellers Action Group. Both Tony and Dolly are advocates for young Travellers in Laois and are involved with the Laois Traveller Action Group. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

In 2022 they became the first travellers to be part of Comhairle na nÓg in Portlaoise where they advocated for the education, social and emotional needs of young Travellers. As part of Comhairle na nÓg they were involved in the organisation of the Colour Fun Run in May 2022 which was an uplifting event for mental health support in Laois.

They have spoken in front of many professional groups and educational services, including the Traveller Education Consultation Event at the Laois Education Centre, to highlight the needs of young Travellers. They have shown great leadership qualities and have demonstrated to other young travellers the benefits of being a part of groups and forums in order for their voices to be heard. 

They represented all young Travellers in Laois at the National Youth Council of Ireland Conference in Dublin in July of last year.  They continue to demonstrate equality and belonging and are well deserving of their award

The judging panel were delighted to declare Tony McInerney and Dolly Nevin  as        group award winners 2023. 

Ashraf Mohammad Sulieman (Special Achievement Award)

Ashraf was nominated by Brian Thompson and Maura Murphy of St Mary’s CBS in Portlaoise where he is a student. This young man has a very remarkable story to tell. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

He has travelled over 10, 000km to be here with us tonight.  Ashraf was taken from his school in Somalia by the Al Shabaab (Somalian based Islamist group) and taken to a training camp where he was tied up, beaten and deprived of water. He managed to escape and returned to his parents. 

His parents managed to get him to Europe where he walked to Greece from Turkey and eventually made his way to Germany. He then sought asylum in Ireland. 

At the age of fifteen he had to live in a foreign country without any friends or family. He thought himself English and when he came to Ireland he focused on his education. 

Ashraf has shared his story with all year groups in St Mary’s CBS. His fellow students have heard first-hand the sufferings of others throughout the world and they realise how injustice in the world can and must be overcome by the struggles of people like Ashraf. 

Ashraf is an inspirational young man and well deserving of his award. The judging panel are delighted to declare Ashraf Mohammad Sulieman a    Special Achievement Award winner 2023

All Inclusive Sports Group, (Group Award)

The All Inclusive Sports Group are our group award winners who were nominated by Des Mulhall of St Marys CBS, Portlaoise and Lynda Scully of Portlaoise Panthers.

The group comprises of Odhran Phelan, Dylan Browne, Callum Conroy and Ciara Kennedy and was formed to acknowledge these young people’s involvement and dedication to all-inclusive sports teams in Portloaise.

 The group are involved with the Football For All soccer team and the Portlaoise Panthers Inclusive Team. Football For All gives opportunities to people to play the “beautiful game” who may not ordinarily get a chance to do so. 

The Portlaoise Panthers Inclusive Team is a basketball team for young people and adults with disabilities. The All Inclusive Sports Group are heavily and actively involved in training both teams very early of a Saturday and Sunday morning. 

These young people take the players through drills and put them through their paces. Without the active involvement from these magnificent young people neither teams could run their training sessions or become involve in tournaments.

These young people make the players feel believed in and most of all included. They have helped the players to focus and their abilities rather than their disabilities.

Chloe Kerry Special Achievement award

Chloe Kerry is a phenomenal young person who over the years has shown exceptional potential and commitment to others in need. Nominated by Shauna Williamsm, Chloe has overcome some difficult personal circumstances during her life and in spite of this is always keen to help others. 

Chloe has worked hard  to improve her own personal circumstances and showed great determination to all those that know her  and have worked alongside her as she strove to achieve her goals one of which was to attend third level education which Chloe has achieved & now studies social care. 

Chloe has attained a qualification from NUIG through her engagement with the Foroige Leadership for Life programme, enabling her to be a positive source of empowerment and leadership to her peers and wider community. 

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Chloe fundraised with PATH (Portlaoise Action towards homelessness) raising over €400 for homeless people and families in Laois and Dublin. Chloe also volunteered with a local charity shop spending her time supporting the work of the shop and ensuring it was accessible for all who needed it. Chloe has engaged locally with the Foroige Youth Justice project which while improving her own educational opportunities also selflessly helped other young people to do the same.

Chloe has had a tremendously positive impact on her immediate and wider family as well as those in her community and in particular her siblings, acting as a positive role model and teaching them the power of hope and resilience. 

Chloe is a worthy recipient of a Garda Youth Award due to her commitment to choosing the right path even when it was not always the easiest path to travel, to helping make her community a better place and by supporting those  who need it most. 

The judging panel is delighted to declare Chloe Kerry a Special Achievement Award 2023.

IN PICTURES: Young people honoured at Laois Offaly Garda Divisional Youth Awards

Truly inspirational young people of Laois and Offaly are honoured

Laois Offaly Garda recognise the vital role individuals and groups play in their families and communities

The Laois Offaly Garda Division Youth Awards awards were presented at the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise on Thursday, March 23. There were also a number of Offaly recipients They are sponsored by Supermac's.