Gallen student helps coach 30 primary school children

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

There were four special achievement winners from Offaly: Moira Scott, Gallen Community School, Ferbane, Holly and Tiernan Donnolly, Youthwork Ireland Midlands, Ian Flood from Clonbullogue and Hamid Hossini, St Brendan’s Community School, Birr.

Moira Scott

Moira Scott was nominated by the Principal of Gallen Community School, Garrett Buckley. She was diagnosed with Autism, and has a moderate intellectual disability. Moira is an integral member of the Cluny Centre in Gallen Community School. In summer 2022 she completed a six-week training programme with Offaly Sports Partnership, which enabled her to qualify as an assistant coach in eight different sports. Every Thursday Moira uses this qualification to help coach 30 primary school children. She also volunteers with Water Polo Mullingar and Special Olympics Ireland.

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

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

The stories from all the winners are on www.offalyindependent.ie

The 2023 Laois Offaly Garda Divisional Youth Awards took place on Thursday, March 23 at The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise.

A Garda Youth Award recognises the outstanding achievement of young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years.