Teens honoured for courage and contribution to community

A Leaving Cert student with cerebral palsy and a teenager who wrote a book, while caring for young siblings after her mother died of cancer, are among the winners of the 2012 West Cork Garda Youth Awards.

In all, 15 individual awards and two group awards will be presented at a special ceremony taking place tomorrow at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

A total of 137 young people were nominated for the 17th annual awards, a record figure which, one of the organisers, Garda Damian White, said “demonstrates the contribution being made to their community by the youth of West Cork”.

“These are young people from the age of 14 up who have shown tremendous courage in facing up to challenges in their personal lives and dedication in contributing to their communities.”

Visual impairment and limited mobility have not deterred Schull student Fiona Cotter. The courage of the 18-year-old who has cerebral palsy, but is preparing to sit the Leaving Certificate next June, earned her a District Award.

Special Achievement Award winner Kate McCarthy, 17, from Skibbereen was recognised for her courage in facing the devastating loss of her mother from cancer last year — and taking on the extra responsibilities in helping to care for three younger siblings.

Kate also wrote a book Fun Art for Kids dedicated to her mother.

Fourteen-year-old Shóna Hayes from Ballinascarthy received an Overall Award to highlight her dedicated care of her mother who suffers from MS and of her willingness to shoulder extra household responsibilities which have resulted from her mother’s illness.

The judges were also impressed by her contribution to a cyber-bullying project undertaken with her local Foróige club.

Other winners in the annual awards, sponsored by Supervalu, include the Venture section of the Bandon Scouts which in May of 2011 carried out a humanitarian project in Botswana as well as the Riverstick Foróige Club, for its work in a variety of projects ranging from donating clothes for the flood victims of Pakistan and working with St Vincent de Paul in organising Christmas food hampers for needy families.

Inspector Brendan Fogarty, based in Bandon, was chairman of the judging committee. He said the judges are “consistently impressed and humbled” by the sacrifices made by the young nominees.