Cork Garda Youth Awards honour selfless teens

Five exceptional teenagers have scooped the top prizes at the West Cork Garda Youth Awards.

There were selected from 141 nominees and announced at an awards ceremony in Macroom last night.

The most travelled overall winner was Niamh Whooley, 18, of Goleen, who took part in an exchange with a high school in impoverished Lesotho, where she helped with an HIV/Aids forum. She also helped secure funding for the upgrade of Goleen community centre.

Tracey Cronin, 18, from Inchigeela joined her on the winners’ list.

She is head of promotions on the Liz Lucey Memorial Committee which has raised more than €60,000 for Marymount Hospice. Aside from that, she volunteers to help younger children prepare for Scór competitions and gives up her time to play music for residents of the local nursing home.

This is an act also carried out by another overall award winner Ciarán Michael O’Donovan, 17, from Skeagh. He was also lauded for his support and fundraising work with the local Foróige club.

Another member of Foróige to receive acknowledgement was Jade O’Shea, 16, from Newcestown, Bandon, who has been active in established its Christmas fun day and fundraising for various charities.

Winner Conor Corkery, 15, of Liscahane, Millstreet, was praised for being a role model inside his home and outside in the community. v

He helps care for his brother John, who is autistic, and managed the farm to allow his parents to take a break while his brother was in respite.

His citation said: “Conor has displayed outstanding characteristics in a young man, selflessly thinking of others rather than himself.”