Top honours for 10 youths

Cork campaigner Joanne O’Riordan is among 10 young people to win awards for their outstanding achievements in categories such as personal and cultural achievement, contribution to children, environmental leadership, and medical innovation.

Joanne, who is one of seven people worldwide living with total Amelia syndrome, meaning she was born without limbs, was lauded for her work as a disability campaigner as she picked up one of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ireland’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons awards.

The teenager has publicly challenged the Government on cuts affecting people with disabilities, has addressed the United Nations on the importance of technology in her life, and is working with Trinity College Dublin to create a robot to help her with everyday tasks.