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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Michaela Buckley, Callum O’Neill, Jack O’Neill, Eimear O’Neill and Emily O’Neill. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
OVER 200 people from across the county attended the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016 in the Ballyroe Heights Hotel in Tralee on Friday.
The celebration commenced with dinner and was followed by a presentation of 27 awards, accompanied with an inspiring citation of each winner’s achievements.
Twenty Merit Awards, five Distinction Awards, the Voluntary Group Award and the Overall Winner Award were presented on the night.
Chief Superintendent Tom Myers commended 15 year old Timmy Dillon from Kilflynn who was announced as the Overall Winner of the Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards 2016.
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Timmy was presented with a specially commissioned crystal trophy and the Overall Winner Certificate to mark his achievement.
Timmy, a third year student at St Michael’s College in Listowel was described at the awards as an inspiration and a shining example to the young people both in school and in his community.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Donal O’Sullivan, Noreen O’Sullivan and Sinead O’Sullivan. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Timmy has been involved in many fundraising initiatives in school for charities and also for his local GAA Club St Senans.
Timmy plays an important role with his local youth club and also helps out with the local coursing club. Timmy was praised for being a genuine, dependable, modest, hardworking young man who gives up his time to support the less fortunate in his community and also helping out his neighbours.
The five Distinction Award Winners were: Michaela Buckley O’Riordan, Muckross, Killarney; Megan Duggan, Headford, Killarney; Diarmuid Lynch, Kielduff, Tralee; Alison Jones, Farmers Bridge, Tralee and Shay Walsh, Scartaglen, Killarney.
The five distinction winners each received a Children of Lir bronze trophy and a Distinction Award Certificate to mark their achievement in this year’s awards.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Tony Hanlon, Miriam Hanlon, Anthony Hanlon and Mairead Hanlon. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
The Voluntary Group Achievement Award 2016 was presented to Kerry Comhairle na nÓg.
The youth council comprises of over 60 members and provides young people with the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies.
Kerry Comhairle na nÓg meet monthly in Tralee and Killarney to discuss topics such as mental health, education, substance misuse and bullying.
Twenty Merit Award Certificates were also presented to: Unity Ankomah, Tralee; Kevin Ashe, Ardfert; Orla Coffey, Caherciveen; Niamh Cullen, Lisselton; Jack Curran, Castleisland; Laura Daly, Faha, Killarney; Mark Doona, Beaufort, Killarney; Anthony Hanlon, Asdee Village, Listowel; Michael Leane, Ballyheigue; Cáelán McCarthy, Caherciveen; Joanne McCarthy, Kenmare; Emma Ní Chonchúir, Daingean Uí Chúis; Basit Oyebanji, Tralee; Denis O’Leary, Ballycasheen, Killarney; Sinéad O’Sullivan, Caherciveen; Pádraic Randles, Kilgarvan; Sinead Ryan, Tralee; Mervyn Shalema, Tralee; Barry Sugrue, Tralee and Katejan Wojciak, Listowel.
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.”
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Niamh Cullen and Orla Cullen. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Chief Superintendent Tom Myers stated; “An Garda Síochána consider it essential to engage in a positive fashion with the young people in our communities. In doing so it is necessary to acknowledge positive achievements by those young people, whether these are in the fields of voluntary work in the community, sport, or education. It would not be possible to acknowledge this achievement and have an occasion whereby the families of nominees can join in the celebrations without the support from Lee Strand, the local Co-Op highly respected in the community.”
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Cathriona Ashe, Kevin Ashe, Emma Molloy, Noreen Ashe and Michael Ashe. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Esther O’Sullivan and John O’Sullivan of Lee Strand. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Denis Sugrue, Barry Sugrue and Helen Sugrue. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Mervyn Shalemba, Ellian Dogon and Treasa Elumelu. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Frank McLoughlin, Phyliss McLoughlin, Michelle Lynch, Anne Lynch and Eddie Lynch. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Amy O’Leary, Geraldine O’Leary, Denis O’Leary, Niamh O’Leary and Denis O’Leary. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Catherine O’Connor, Garda Mike Courtney, Joe Daly, Laura Daly and Treasa Daly. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Heather Jones, Howard Jones, Alison Jones, Anne Jones, Anne-Marie Jones. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Helen Coffey and Orla Coffey. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Joanne McCarthy, Sharon McCarthy and Denis McCarthy. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
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Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Padraig Feirtéir, Elaine O’Connor, Laura O’Connor, Emma O’Connor and John O’Connor. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Attending the Lee Strand Garda Youth Achievement Awards were Mary Ashe and Donal Ashe. Photo by Lisa O’Mahony.
Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Award Winners 2016
Overall Winner 2016
Timmy Dillon, Kilflynn
Distinction Award Winners 2016
Michaela Buckley O’Riordan, Muckross, Killarney
Megan Duggan, Headford, Killarney
Diarmuid Lynch, Kielduff, Tralee
Alison Jones, Farmers Bridge, Tralee
Shay Walsh, Scartaglen, Killarney
Merit Award Winners 2016
Unity Ankomah, Tralee
Kevin Ashe, Ardfert
Orla Coffey, Caherciveen
Niamh Cullen, Lisselton
Jack Curran, Castleisland
Laura Daly, Faha, Killarney
Mark Doona, Beaufort, Killarney
Anthony Hanlon, Asdee Village, Listowel
Michael Leane, Ballyheigue
Cáelán McCarthy, Caherciveen
Joanne McCarthy, Kenmare
Emma Ní Chonchúir, Baile na Baoile, Daingean Uí Chúis
Basit Oyebanji, Tralee
Denis O’Leary, Ballycasheen, Killarney
Sinéad O’Sullivan, Caherciveen
Pádraic Randles, Kilgarvan
Sinead Ryan, Tralee
Mervyn Shalema, Tralee
Barry Sugrue, Tralee
Katejan Wojciak, Listowel
Voluntary Group Award Winner 2016
Kerry Comhairle na nÓg
