79 young people from across Ireland have been commended for their outstanding commitment to personal development and contribution to society at the Gaisce Gold Award ceremony yesterday.
President Michael D Higgins delivered the Gaisce Gold Award to each recipient at a ceremony which took place at Áras an Uachtaráin – the first Gaisce Gold Award Ceremony to take place in three years.
The Gaisce Gold Award is the nation’s highest recognition of a young person’s initiative, achievement, and voluntary contribution to society.
In order to complete a Gold Gaisce Award, each of today’s recipients set and achieved their own goals across challenge areas that include personal skill, physical activity, community involvement, team adventure journey and a residential project.
Gold Award recipient Kirsty Moran, who currently works in the defence forces and was commended for her participation in adventure sports, said:
"Completing the challenges to achieve the Gaisce Gold Award has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and to be commended by the President of Ireland for achieving this is a real honour. The freedom to set my own goals in areas that already excite me meant I could explore my own interests with the help of the presidents awards leaders. I'd love to stay involved with Gaisce and help others develop their own goals and aim towards a Gaisce Gold Award in the years to come."
