A group of talented young people from the wider Killarney area have been honoured with the prestigious Gaisce Gold Award, recognising their exceptional achievements in personal development, community involvement, and physical recreation.

Among the awardees are Elaine Nagel and Cathal Bradley from Rathmore Social Action Group, and Juliette Kelly, Cian Lenihan, and Aoibhinn Coffey from Killorglin Community College.
These young individuals have dedicated countless hours to volunteering, participating in physical activities, and acquiring new skills.

Gaisce, the President’s Award, is a personal development programme that challenges young people to dream big and realise their potential. It encourages participants to engage in a variety of activities, from volunteering to physical fitness to cultural exploration.

Aoibhinn is also a member of the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel.

She said: “Doing my Gaisce Award pushed me out of my comfort zone. I have also loved the opportunities which Gaisce has afforded me, from meeting new people and being part of a team to being able to use my creative skills to help develop new training programmes for youth rowers. The Gaisce Award has helped me gain confidence and give back to my community.”

President Michael D. Higgins presented 73 young people with the Gaisce Gold Award at a ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin last week.