It was a day to remember for 64 volunteers yesterday as they gathered in St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle to receive Civic Merit Awards from President Mary McAleese, for their work as President's Award Leaders.
Gaisce, the President's Award, is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, and rewards young adults with a gold, silver or bronze presentation for completing challenges involving community involvement, personal skills development, sport and adventure programmes. Those being honoured included teachers, community workers, youth leaders and social workers, all of whom have spent a prolonged number of years acting as leaders to the Gaisce programme.
John T Murphy, director of development, said that since its inception in 1985, over 140,000 young people had benefited from the Gaisce programme and that over €30 million had been raised for charities.
A total of 12,642 participants took part in the programme this year and they were supported by about 1,200 President's award leaders around the country, who guide the participants along the way.
President McAleese introduced the Civic Merit Awards three years ago to recognise award leaders for their work, and those eligible for the honours yesterday had at least five years experience acting as volunteers.
"The Civic Merit Award is not gained easily," said the President. "A minimum of five years' active involvement as President's Award Leaders demonstrates great determination and commitment . . . I would like to compliment the award leaders on their sensitivity to the needs of the young people."
The award winners included Oliver Ward of O'Carolan College in Nobber, Co Meath, who has been a President's Award Leader for an impressive 19 years.