VIDEO: 'Hero' Bríd wins prestigious award for 'Someone Like Me' video

12-year-old Bríd Courtney from Ardfert, Co Kerry has won a prestigious national award for her inspirational essay video entitled ‘Someone Like Me’.

The award was presented by Minister of State for New Communities, Culture, Equality and Drugs Strategy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin at at a special ceremony held in Farmleigh House in Dublin on Thursday.

The award ceremony saw primary school students from around the country arrive at Farmleigh House as part of a national essay competition hosted by the Department of Justice and Equality to promote positive attitudes towards disability in primary schools.

The students in attendance were shortlisted for their entries, which saw a mix of written and video essays, with many showcasing their own disabilities or those of their friends and families.

The competition entitled ‘Someone Like Me’ represented the theme of celebration.

On receiving the letter from the Department of Justice and Equality, principal Betty Stack of Ardfert National School, immediately asked Bríd and sixth class if they would like to participate. The response was overwhelmingly in favour of submitting to the competition.

Ardfert N.S. had video footage detailing Bríd's involvement at school over the last number years. Sixth class then wrote a script, which saw the children act the role of TV news presenters, reporting from different events, to tie all of Bríd’s activities together.

In the video, her fellow classmates refer to Bríd as their best friend and a hero.