The President, Mary McAleese, has presented 52 teachers and youth workers from across the country with Civic Merit Awards at a ceremony held in Dublin Castle today.
The awards mark the voluntary contribution made by youth leaders to the Gaisce scheme - the President's Award, which encourages young people aged between 15 and 25 years to complete a challenging self development programme.
Currently, 800 President Award Leaders (PALS) volunteer their time to help the 13,000 youths participating in the scheme to achieve their goals and attain bronze, silver and gold awards.
PALS help young people to set agreed personal goals in four different areas of activity:
- Community Involvement - helping the elderly or those with special needs
- Personal Skills - Sign Language or First Aid
- Physical Recreation - keeping themselves fit, and
- Adventure - carrying out a challenging expedition such as hiking or camping
Today President McAleese commended the talent and energy of the 800 PALS working today and described them as people with a "profound sense of civic duty" who had selflessly volunteered their time "for no pay, no recognition and no guarantee of thanks" to invest in the future of Ireland by helping its young people develop and grow.
"These are men and women with busy lives, with jobs to do and families to run but they are also people with a profound sense of civic duty, people who want Ireland's future to be the best it can be and who know investment in our young people is the key to realising that ambition," she said.
"I cannot overstate my personal appreciation of the important contribution that you make to the lives of young people, our communities and our society. You strengthen all of them from within, building up our moral fibre, our spirit of adventure, our love of life, our sense of responsibility for ourselves and for others," the President added.
The Civic Merit Award acknowledges those PALS who have worked with the Gaisce programme for at least five years.
This year's awardees are:
- Kenneth Barry Scouting Ireland
- Tomás Bell,Portmarnock Scout Group
- Florence BlakeLYIT, Donegal
- Gaye BuckleyRockwell College
- Ann Marie ByrneNational Learning Network
- Louie CasserlySt Anthony's & Claddagh Credit Union/ Civil Def.
- Mary Clare-SweetnamGlanmire C C, Cork
- Vera CollinsGlanmire C C, Cork
- Mary CoughlanArd Scoil Mhuire, Co. Limerick
- Dominica CreanSalesian College, Celbridge
- Carmel CruiseSt Colman's College
- Norah D'ArcyGalway Community College
- Louise Dillon-ReevesSt Marys College, Knockbeg, Carlow
- Frank DowlingChanel College, Coolock
- Mary FoxSt Fintans High School
- Mary GalbraithCrana College, Buncrana
- Mary GalvinLoreto College, Mullingar
- Michelle GarryLetterkenny VS (Errigal College)
- Geraldine GarveySt Macartan's College, Monaghan
- Darina HalpennySt. Louis's High School, Dublin 6
- Daniel HealyCBS, Sidney Hill, Cork
- Mairead HoganSMI Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick
- Catherine KeenanSt Augustine's School, Blackrock
- Miriam KellyHeywood C S, Laois
- Maura McCarthySt Joseph's Colege, Lucan
- Margaret McCollumSt. Eunan's College, Letterkenny
- Patricia McElhoneCorran College, Ballymote
- Edward McEvoyTullamore College
- Breda McHughMilford VS, Donegal
- Tom McKernan1st Dublin Fairview Scouts
- Padraig McMorrowPresentation SS Kilkenny
- Fiona McQuillanUrsuline College, Sligo
- Gerry MooreSt Columba's Comp School, Glenties
- Elizabeth NagleSt Mary's HS, Midleton, Co Cork
- Marie Uí NidhSP Mhic Dara, Carna
- Brídgín Ní CheallaighGairmscoil Chú Uladh
- Paraic NooneDrumshanbo VS
- Seán Ó FearraighGairmscoil Chú Uladh
- Maura O'BrienColaiste Mhuire Askeaton
- Norma O'BrienColaiste Mhuire, Ashkeaton
- Helena O'DeaSt Patrick's College, Lacken Cross
- Jerh O'DonghueRathmore Social Action Group
- Noelle O'Donohue-McCaulLoreto SS, Balbriggan
- Colette O'HaganSummerhill College & Corran College
- Caitriona O'ReillyLoreto Convent SS, Balbriggan
- Paddy O'ReillyTrinity Comp, Ballymun
- Margaret RafteryUrsuline College, Sligo
- John Paul ReillyCollinstown Park Community College
- Brian SheridanSt Finian's College, Mullingar
- Fiona Smith Mercy Sec. School, Goldenbridge
- Susan TectorG and K Training Centre, Cork
- Orlaith UnderwoodTullamore College
- Jackie WhelanChanel College, Coolock