Remarkable Banagher student among Garda Youth Award winners

There were eight Offaly winners at the Laois Offaly Garda Divisional Youth Awards which took place on Thursday, March 23.

A special presentation was made by Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon to Pat McDonagh of Supermac's, and his siblings John Joe, Lilly, Mary and Angela who accepted a Garda centenary commemorative medal on behalf of their late father John McDonagh. John joined An Garda Síochána in 1931 and served as a Garda for over 40 years at various stations throughout the country, including Banagher and Rahan Garda Stations in the Laois Offaly Division.

There were two individual award winners from Offaly on the night including Ailís Malone from Banagher College and Eric Grimes from Tullamore College.

Ailís Malone

Ailís was nominated by her teacher Kathleen Gleeson. She was born with Down Syndrome but has not let her disability hinder her from being an inspiring and influential young woman. Ailis is on the Youth Advisory Panel known as YAP with the Ombudsman for Children since 2010. YAP works on the United Nation Convention on the rights of the child. Ailis spent a year and a half learning about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ailis said she is proud to be a member of YAP and it has given her more confidence to use her voice to work for the rights of children. Ailis has also launched a Guide to Services & Supports for Children with Disabilities in Laois and Offaly recently.

The Special Achievement winners were; Ian Flood from Clonbullogue, Hamid Hossini, St Brendan’s Community School, Birr, Moira Scott, Gallen Community School, Ferbane and Holly and Tiernan Donnolly, Youthwork Ireland Midlands.

The Group Award winners were Video Vibers from the Acorn Project, Edenderry and Shinrone Youth Initiative.

See individual articles on the other winners on Offalyindependent.ie