'An inspiration to all young people': Tributes paid at West Cork Garda Youth Awards
Special achievement award-winner Jessica Jane Waschkowitz, Castletownbere, at the West Cork Garda Youth Awards, in association with SuperValu and media partners the 'Irish Examiner', at Dunmore House Hotel. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A West Cork woman believed to be Ireland’s first woman carving out a career as a blacksmith is among several young people honoured in Clonakilty over the weekend.
Jessica Jane Waschkowitz, from Castletownbere, who was born with Down syndrome, has been showcased on a billboard in Times Square in New York after catching global attention through her social media platforms.
On Friday night, at the West Cork Garda Youth Awards, she was described as “an inspiration to all young people, a shining example of the importance of pursuing our dreams” who “has defied stereotypes and shattered expectations”.
Jessica became a blacksmith after developing an interest in the craft at the age of 16 and follows in the footsteps of her father Reinhard.
Her social media posts caught the attention of the National Down Syndrome Society in the US, leading to her being featured on the iconic billboards in Times Square.
Last year, Jessica travelled to Berlin with her dad to exhibit her work at the Special Olympics World Games.
She was among 18 award winners honoured at the 28th West Cork Garda Youth Awards in Dunmore House, Clonakilty, on Friday night.
She was presented with a special achievement award, as was Naomi Dambe, a native of Botswana who now lives in Clonakilty.
Having acted as master of ceremonies for the Cork Racist Summit, 19-year-old Naomi was described as “a mentor to younger girls and encourages them to be true to themselves and not to be afraid".
Her citation states: “She also assists with an LGBT group. Naomi is an inspiration to young women in her school community, and in her accommodation centre. She overcome much trauma in her life but she has shown herself to be a very strong willed young woman.”
She told the that she will sit the Leaving Certificate exams in June and plans to study nursing. She lives in Clonakilty Lodge with her mother and younger brother, having moved here in 2022.
The award citation outlines that she had been subjected to physical abuse while in Botswana and “was in real danger of being killed”.
It adds: “She now understands and accepts that her violent past was not her fault.”
She was described as an inspiration to her local community, and judges noted that she has “fought to stamp out racism, fought for her freedom, and fought for the underdog.”
A third special achievement award was presented to 20-year-old Drimoleague man Brian O’Driscoll, who has taken over the running of his family farm following the death, after an illness, of his father Teddy last year.
Brian said the award means a lot to him, adding that his father would be “very proud”.
The audience heard that Brian is an “outstanding support” to his mother Geraldine and his siblings, and has proven prowess in road bowling and other sports. He has shown “exceptional courage in dealing with a traumatic event in his family’s history",” states the citation.
Also among the award winners was a group of students who organised a fundraiser for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association “out of care and respect for a teacher who played a positive role in their lives”.
The Walk Cause You Can group of five students — Ellie Buckley, Aoife O’Leary, Anna Crowley, Brian O’Callaghan, and Sarah Jane O’Sullivan — from Coachford College, organised the fundraisers in support of the school’s deputy principal, Diarmuid Hickey, who passed away in March after being diagnosed with MND in 2022.
Just weeks before the death of the 56-year-old dad of four from Ballincollig, the group organised for the school’s entire community to walk 10,000 laps of the school walkway, raising close to €52,000 for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The citation describes the five as tremendous ambassadors for today’s youth.
It says the group showed true empathy and galvanised the whole school and local community to do something tangible following Mr Hickey’s diagnosis.
The group’s fundraiser followed a template put in place by their beloved teacher during the covid pandemic, along with teaching colleague Val Vaughan.
Five overall awards were presented to Emily Cronin, Ballymakeera; Maebh Doyle, Bandon; Eve Cave, Bandon; Aaron Ryan, Ballinascarthy; and Felix Pratheesh, Skibbereen.
District awards were presented to Doireann Walsh, Bandon; Ella Mai Griffin, Schull; Joseph Lawlor, Ballinspittle; and Emily Mehigan, Macroom. Other winners were Macroom Foroige, KCS Tanzania Team 24, Kinsale; DJS Engineering mini company group from Kinsale Community School, and Safety Streets road safety project, Kinsale.
Meanwhile, Anthony McDermott from Clonakilty was honoured for his outstanding contribution to youth, for his work across a number of groups in Clonakilty.
Inspector Ian O’Callaghan said it was also important to honour the role played by the families, communities, schools, youth groups, and sporting, community, and voluntary organisations that have supported the young award winners in their lives. He said that many people have given freely of their time to assist in the development of young people.
Chief Superintendent Vincent O’Sullivan said it was heartening to see so many young people involved in activities locally. He said the awards are an “indication of the winners outstanding potential to shape and change society, and create positive impacts wherever life takes them”.
He said retired garda James O’Mahony, in attendance, was the “driving force” of the youth awards in West Cork, and that the awards are now being spearheaded by Don Davis and Damian White, both locally and at a national level.
The youth awards are held in association with SuperValu and the media sponsor for the event is the .
Editor Tom Fitzpatrick, who was one of the judges, said the future is bright given the capabilities of those nominated for the awards and said that some will enter sectors such as politics, media, and policing.
Fellow judge Kevin O’Shea, SuperValu’s retailer manager, described the winners as inspirational young people who “have worked tirelessly to make their communities better places”.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
