.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Dylan, Denise, Darren, Michael and Devin Burns. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
OVER 270 people from across the county attended the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2015 in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel in Tralee on Friday (photos below).
The celebration commenced with dinner and was followed by a presentation of 32 awards, accompanied with an inspiring citation of each winner’s achievements. Twenty six Merit Awards, four Distinction Awards, the Voluntary Group Award and the Overall Winner Award were presented on the night.
Tralee winners included Darren Burns, Ross Sugrue, Leanne Hannafin, Jebin John, Eabha Mc Carthy, Alan Mc Loughlin, Ryan O’Donnell and Robbie O’Sullivan.
Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney commended 18 year old Brendan Coppinger from Muckross in Killarney who was announced as the Overall Winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2015.
Brendan was presented with a specially commissioned crystal trophy and the Overall Winner Certificate to mark his achievement. Brendan, a 5th year student at St Brendan’s College in Killarney completed many tasks as part of his transition year, including the ECDL Programme, the log-on-learn programme and also received a Bronze Gaisce.
Brendan also volunteered to train Killarney Celtic U11s. At a training session Brendan along with Coach Eugene Cosgrave saved the life of his fellow Transition Year Student Tom Geaney who had gone into cardiac arrest.
As a result of this incident a new local project in Killarney has been set up called Operation Resuscitation.
The plan will offer specialist life-saving training to schools, sports clubs and individuals and aims to train hundreds of people in the locality, thereby increasing survival rates by up to 26%.
Brendan’s courage has been recognised locally and nationally and he has appeared on Morning Ireland and The Afternoon Show on RTE 1 with Dáithí Ó Sé and Maura Derrane.
The four Distinction Award Winners were: Darren Burns, Tralee; Clodagh Curran, Valentia; Sarah Finnan, Glenflesk and Ross Sugrue, Tralee. The four distinction winners each received a Children of Lir bronze trophy and a Distinction Award Certificate to mark their achievement in this year’s awards.
The Voluntary Group Achievement Award 2015 was presented to the Tralee Branch of the Irish Red Cross.
Twenty six Merit Award Certificates were also presented to: Mutaz Almusawi, Killarney; Owen Barry, Killarney; Roisin Casey, Castleisland; Chelsea Coffey, Killarney; Faolán Dáibhís, Ballyferriter; Paddy Flynn, Cordal; Abigail Graham, Fossa; Leanne Hannafin, Tralee; Jebin John, Tralee; Finbar Lehane, Kenmare; Eabha Mc Carthy, Tralee; Alan Mc Loughlin, Tralee; Michael Mc Nabb, Killarney; Diarmuid Mullane, Kilcummin; Bobbi Nic Eoin, Dingle; Tara Nic Gearailt, Ballyferriter; Niamh Ní Laoithe, Ballyferriter; Holly O’Donnell, Clahane; Ryan O’Donnell, Tralee; Casey O’Donoghue, Cahersiveen; Katie O’Neill, Kilcummin; Robbie O’Sullivan, Tralee; Sean O’Sullivan, Kilgarvin; Sinead Roche, Killorglin; Leona Stack, Abbeydorney and Shaun Valentin, Duagh.
Donal Pierse, Chairperson, Lee Strand commented; “Lee Strand is delighted to support the Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards since 1998. Lee Strand in association with An Garda Siochana have always been proactive in acknowledging and identifying the positive work by young people and voluntary groups to enhance community life in Kerry. The awards are a fantastic celebration of their outstanding achievements.”
Overall Winner 2015
Brendan Coppinger, Killarney
Distinction Award Winners 2015
Darren Burns, Tralee
Clodagh Curran, Valentia
Sarah Finnan, Glenflesk
Ross Sugrue, Tralee
Merit Award Winners 2015
Mutaz Almusawi, Killarney
Owen Barry, Killarney
Roisin Casey, Castleisland
Chelsea Coffey, Killarney
Faolán Dáibhís, Ballyferriter
Paddy Flynn, Cordal
Abigail Graham, Fossa
Leanne Hannafin, Tralee
Jebin John, Tralee
Finbar Lehane, Kenmare
Eabha Mc Carthy, Tralee
Alan Mc Loughlin, Tralee
Michael Mc Nabb, Killarney
Diarmuid Mullane, Kilcummin
Bobbi Nic Eoin, Dingle
Tara Nic Gearailt, Ballyferriter
Niamh Ní Laoithe, Ballyferriter
Holly O’Donnell, Clahane
Ryan O’Donnell, Tralee
Casey O’Donoghue, Cahersiveen
Katie O’Neill, Kilcummin
Robbie O’Sullivan, Tralee
Sean O’Sullivan, Kilgarvin
Sinead Roche, Killorglin
Leona Stack, Abbeydorney
Shaun Valentin, Duagh
Scroll down for photos…
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Tara Fitzgerald, Bobbi Nic Eoin, Faolan Davis and Niamh Ni Laoithe. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Rose McNabb, Michael McNabb and Tony McNabb. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Finbarr Lehane, Anne Piggott and Sean O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Clodagh Lehane, Aidan Lehane, Finbar Lehane, Joyce Smith and Susan Smith. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Der O’Sullivan, Siobhan O’Sullivan and Sean O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Karen Curran, Clodagh Curran, Caoimhe Curran and Sarah Curran. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Sarah John, Jemi John, Jebin John, John Cherian and Breda Murphy. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Michael Roche, Sinead Roche, Michael Roche and Jane Kissane. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Eoin Barrett, Michael McNabb, Sarah Finnan, Kate O’Neill, Abigail Graham, Chelsea Haughey, Mutaz Almusawi. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Seamus, Grace, Alan and Helen McLoughlin. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left, in front: Carla and Leona Stack. Back: Luke Stack, Aoife O’Sullivan, Eleanor Stack and Robert Stack . Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. John Hanafin, Tina Walsh, Leanne Hanafin and Lucy Foley. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Breda O’Donoghue, Sheila O’Neill, Dermot O’Neill, Katie O’Neill, Kathleen O’Sullivan and Michael O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Amber Sugrue, Vera Sugrue, Raymond Sugrue, Caoimhe Sugrue, Eva Sugrue, Mary McAuliffe and Ross Sugrue. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left, front: Thomas White, Alexandra Gadong, Aisling Williams, Billy Donovan, Veronica Heaslip. Back: Leah Corcoran, Conor McGrath and Sinead Ryle. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
At the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 were, from left. Robbie and Georgina O’Sullivan. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
