Teen who fought off attacker with karate skills receives Garda Youth Award

Stories of bravery, determination, and courage, as well as of kind heartedness and generosity were heard at the 2019 Meath Garda Youth Awards at the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells.  The Youth Awards, sponsored by Centra, celebrate outstanding young people living in Meath between the ages of 13 and 21 years.

An Garda Siochana and Centra recognise that a considerable amount of positive work is being done by young people throughout communities across Meath.  These young people who make a positive contribution to their community, helping to make it a better place to live. The award categories include a Special Achievement award for a young person who has overcome difficult circumstance and whose bravery sets them apart.  The Adult/Mentor award recognises that many young people get invaluable help along the way from an adult, be it in their capacity as mentors, coaches, or group leaders. This vital and often unheralded work helps to develop a sense of self-worth in young people.
The first National Garda Youth Awards Scheme was held earlier this year and one winner in four of the categories will go forward to represent Meath at the National Garda Youth Awards.  There is also a new category this year for Community Safety which is for young people who through a crime prevention or safety initiative have made their community a safer place to live.

Individual Award: Kate Mulhern, Navan

Last April, Kate Mulhern was walking her dog in Navan when she noticed she was being followed by a man, who tried to pull her into a car driven by a second man. The 17 year-old was able to ward off her attacker by using her karate skills, she was able to use a karate kick to fend off her attacker, and make her escape by running off. Kate has been twice an Irish representative at the world championships. Her training and skills saved her in this particular attack. Since the attack, Kate has been promoting karate in her community to other young people, and sharing her story to create awareness. Kate, who suffers from anxiety, was determined to have something positive come from the attack. Beaufort College is very proud of her.
　

Group Award: 'Never Home Alone', Eureka Secondary School, Kells

As part of a Transition Year Young Social Innovators Programme (YSI), students at Eureka launched a social inclusion programme which aimed to connect both young and old in the Kells community and hinterland.
Entitled 'Never Home Alone', the 10 week programme, started in February 2019, saw students take part in various activities with local older people to help connect the generations and address the issue of loneliness and associated mental health problems.
The project wanted to raise awareness of the negative health implications of loneliness, and to engage people who may be lonely or at risk of being lonely, encouraging them to get active, meeting people and support.
Each week, students met with a group of senior citizens and did a range of activities, such as cooking, dancing, bowls, arts and crafts, music, bingo, book day, to using the internet and social media apps.
The programme was shortlisted in the top four projects nationwide at the national YSI finals in Croke Park, and featured on Ireland AM on Virgin Media. It also features in an RTE Primetime Investigates programme on the issue of loneliness, and Meath County Council selected the project for a 'Making a Difference' national community award in Kilkenny this month.

Safety Award: Josh Fitzsimons, Bettystown

Eighteen year-old Josh Fitzsimons from Bettystown has overcome a lot of adversity, from losing his father at a young age to growing up in care. In is teenage years, he decided he wanted to help other people, and when he turned 16, joined the local East Meath first Responders unit. Although he couldn’t attend emergency calls until he turned 18, he attended training every week. He also volunteered to organise events, assist in the installation of defibrillators, and gives huge amounts of assistance in fundraising.
He also joined the local Order of Malta where he provided first aid assistance at local events.
Within school, Josh set about raising awareness of cardiac arrest and how best to respond. He spoke to all staff members about the importance of CPR and how to perform it.
Josh also created a notice board within the school which was dedicated to cardiac arrest and CPR. As part of his Leaving Certificate Applied programme, Josh gave presentations on cardiac arrest and CPR to the school community.
He has upskilled continuously and still volunteers regularly. Since turning 18, he has also taken up paid employment with a private ambulance company providing first aid cover at many events around Ireland. Josh has worked extremely hard to accomplish all of this and through his hard work and self motivation, he has made a real difference.　

Special Achievement Award: Aoife Hughes, Ashbourne

Camogie and football player Aoife Hughes, who played under 16 football for Meath, was diagnosed with cancer just before she sat her Junior Certificate exams. Despite this, she showed remarkable resilience to sit six papers, and achieved exceptional results. Aoife's treatment started immediately after diagnosis, yet she showed great determination and inner strength by continuing to show support for her club and county teams of Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Meath, attending games whenever possible. It took massive courage and stamina to travel to Banagher in Offaly to be with her under 16 team mates for their All Ireland final clash against Galway.
After a difficult two weeks in hospital, she had bravely made the journey to Croke Park to support Meath in the All Ireland Intermediate Final against Tipperary, in the company of her twin sister, Niamh.
Aoife presented the cup at the recent women's senior championship final in Ashbourne. Her team mates, peers and friends set up 'Aoife's Army' to offer visible support to Aoife and her family.

Adult/mentor Award: Shay Casserly, Navan

In 2017, Shay Casserly, along with Kevin Farrell, came up with the idea of an inclusive music festival for people with various disabilities. Ablefest took place in July at Fordstown, Navan, and the second one in 2019 brought 2,000 people to Fordstown.
Shay has been involved for a number of years with different community groups such as Prosper, the Talbot Group, Involve Youth Project, Teen Autism Group – TAG, Comhairle na nOg, and MOT addiction services. Her is also on the committee for the Beyond Limit conference in Croke Park, which gives a voice to young people with disabilities.
In his day job, teaching video, photography, and social media skills, he highlights issues facing people with disabilities by making short inspirational videos.

Special Merit Awards

Tiegan Gallagher, Navan

Tiegan's father died by suicide in 2017, and she has shown only courage and maturity by how she has turned this negative situation into a positive one. In the year after his death, she arranged for one group to walk in the VHI mini marathon for Meath River Rescue, who helped in the recovery of her father's body, raising over €1,000. She has also successfully applied to go to college to become a youth worker, so as to help other young people in difficult situations similar to hers.
 

Jade Gaffney, Navan
Fourteen year old Jade Gaffney of Navan has been volunteering with Ability Equine Assisted Therapy for the past three years. She works with one of the children with additional needs there to ensure that they get the best experience from every camp that is run at Ability. She is very capable, and the camp leaders rely on her consistency and competence. Prior to each camp, Jade researches and plans arts and crafts activities for the children, and is the first to volunteer for any fund raising activities.
She has taken pat in courses with Meath Local Sports Partnership, and Claremont Stadium.

Carla Keogh, Slane

In 2015, 10 year-old Carla Keogh was diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour. She underwent emergency brain surgery to bypass the tumour, and within four weeks was back in the pool competing in the Community Games county final, where she finished in the medals.
Showing true grit, determination and tenacity, Carla doesn't allow her diagnosis to definer her and has continued to partake in sports, playing GAA for Slane at all age levels, as well as having trails for Meath, representing her county in the 2018 Leinster Blitz. She is helping out at training with the under seven and under nine teams, and refereeing at weekends.
In 2018, Carla settled into secondary school and was awarded first year student of the year.

Garda District Awards

Ashbourne – Climate Ambassadors, Ashbourne Community School

Farmade Owonde, Jessie Huanga nd Alice McGrath are Climate Ambassadors in Ashbourne Community School. Creating a whale sculpture from plastic, it was paraded in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Ashbourne, and the school was named the first Marine Ambassador School in the country as a result of the girls' work. They also won the ECO-Unesco Young Environmentalists Award in the Eco Art and Design competition.

Navan - Ellen Farrell

Sixteen years-old Ellen Farrell started with the Blue Dragons inclusive rugby team in Navan in September 2018, having seen her two brothers involved. Even though she was studying for her Junior Certificate, she continued to turn up for training and always has a smile on her face, greeting all the children with various abilities warmly. All the children have a great time with her, and some of the young girls are particularly taken with Ellen as she gets down to their level and has fun with them.

Trim – Involve Youth Project

Members of Involve Meath started a mental health campaign called 'No Shame', after seeing how suicide has affected the Travelling community, with figures seven times higher than the national average. They held workshops, and designed posters and a social media page to spread word of their campaign. They received funding to make a video for social media, from the Community Foundation, and have been endorsed by the HSE.

Kells – Special Hands

Special Hands Activity Group, in conjunction with the HSE, run a summer camp in Girley Hall for children aged six to 14, who have additional needs. The camp provides activities, and much needed respite for 24 children over two weeks.  The group of young people provide an inclusive, safe, and happy environment where they can create friendships.