Waterpark's Ava scoops top Garda Youth Award
Pictured at City Hall for the annual Waterford Garda Youth Awards was Ava Walsh, Overall Winner of the Pat Noctor Award. All Photos: Joe Evans
The Garda Youth Awards were held in the Large Room in Waterford's City Hall on Friday last, recognising the many wonderful young people across the Déise who do their best for their communities.
Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit, Juvenile Liasion Officer (JLO) Maureen Neary and Inspector Garda Shay Keevans were on hand to give out the awards on the night.
Sgt Keevans thanked all the attendees for their contributions, Waterford City and County Council for the use of the Large Room, and Jack Molloy for catering.
Waterpark student Ava Walsh was named the overall winner on the night, receiving the Pat Noctor Award for her work in helping young people overcome grief. Ava was inspired to help others after the tragic passing of her father Stuart when she was only 13 years old. She was also the overall winner in the Special Achievement category.
Other winners in the Special Achievement category included Ciara Lucas for her Millennium Youth Project, Cormac Pheasey of Sacred Heart Scout Unit, Shamie McDonagh of St. Paul's Boxing Club, and Isabelle Flynn, Irish Red Cross.
For the Individual Awards, the winners were Ellen Melbourne, family carer; Jack Lenihan, CBS Dungarvan Darts; Mikey Lyons, Strand Lismore; and Shane Barry, Order of Malta. The overall winner for the individual award was Padraig McGrath, 11th Waterford Dungarvan Scouts.
Among the winners of the Group award were the Ballyduff FC Football for All, Fóroige Leadership Group Tramore, PACT Youth Diversion Project and 15/25 Sacred Heart Scout Group. The overall Group winner was the Active Travel Team at Ardscoil Na Mara, Tramore.
In the Community Safety category, the winners were the very brave Sarah O'Riordan, who saved two people from the sea, Sam McLoughlin, for his determination in helping find a lost neighbour, Tallow GAA Club for cleaning up a community road and Mount Sion CBS Student's Union for campaigning for road safety. The overall winners were Year 2 students, who are studying for a BA in International Business at SETU, for their road safety campaign.
