There were three Galway winners in the 2025 Garda National Youth Awards, which took place recently, representing the best of their generation.
This month, An Garda Síochána held its annual National Garda Youth Awards, which recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community.
This year’s event took place at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise and acknowledged the remarkable contributions of 25 recipients.
The winners represented Garda Divisions including Kildare/Carlow, Galway, Wexford, Kerry, Dublin, Cork County, Sligo/Leitrim, Limerick, Meath/Westmeath and Donegal.
In Galway, there were two winners in the Group Category. The Connemara Youth Intergenerational Volunteers were honoured for their work from designing a garden for Clifden Day Care Hospital to leading intergenerational events and cultural celebrations. This award was presented to TY students from Colaiste Mhuire.
Also honoured in the same Group category were Tomás, Gearóid & Micheál O’Sullivan, Marcus Leahy & Cillian O’Sullivan of Galway.
In the Individual Category Jack Sweeney was recognised for representing Galway United and Ireland in football at underage level, as well as the effort he puts into mentoring others as a proud member of the Traveller community.
Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, opened the ceremony, while Guest of Honour Miriam O’Callaghan introduced each award category.
Guest speaker, 2025 International Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, was interviewed by Miriam O’Callaghan during the ceremony.
The winners selected by a national panel are:
Community Safety Award
• Foroige Youth Cafe Ballymote – Sligo/Leitrim
• Manel Mestour, Talk About Youth Project – Dublin South Central
• Young Social Innovators, St. Leo’s College (secondary school) – Kildare/Carlow
• Dungarvan CBS TY Group – Waterford
• Colaiste Mhuire, Transition Year Students – Meath/Westmeath
Group Awards
• Moise Hazachiu & Emanuel Andronache – Dublin North Central
• Kerala Badminton – Dublin North
• Crosscare Youth Diversion Programme (YDP) Friday Group – Dublin West
• Connemara Youth Intergenerational Volunteers – Galway
• Tomás, Gearóid & Micheál O’Sullivan, Marcus Leahy & Cillian O’Sullivan – Galway
Individual Awards
• Lee McCabe – Dublin West
• Philip Yeates – Wexford
• Jack Sweeney – Galway
• Rebecca O’Sullivan – Kerry
• Terry Casey – Limerick
• Amy Van Der Merwe – Sligo/Leitrim
• Sean McCabe – Dublin South Central
• Kate Hoskins – Dublin West
• Rihanna Reynolds – Donegal
• Cormac Downey – Limerick
• Bakhtyar Nabi – Cork County
• Abbie Duff – Dublin North
• Naoise Quinn and AilÍse O’ Sullivan – Cork County
• Paddy Boyle – Donegal
• Conor & Gary O’Sullivan – Kerry
Speaking at the award ceremony, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing & Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, said, “All of today’s nominees and award recipients are to be commended for their dedication and commitment.”
“An Garda Síochána is delighted to be able to publically recognise their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm.”
“Our communities are seeing the benefit of the contribution they are making. Each winner here today represents the very best of what young people in our communities can achieve. They are all inspirational.”
