update
latest news | photos | keeping you up to the minute ....
Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards
Brendan’s Heroism Earns Him Top Garda Award
THE courage and heroism of Muckross teenager Brendan Coppinger was recognised at the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards. Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Mahony presented Brendan with the overall award at the ceremony at Ballyroe Heights Hotel, Tralee, on Friday. Over 270 people from across the county attended the event during which 26 merit awards, four distinction awards, a voluntary group award and overall winner prize were presented. Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahony commended 18-year-old Brendan, who was presented with a specially commissioned crystal trophy. Brendan, a fifth-year student at St Brendan’s College in Killarney, completed many tasks as part of his transition year, including the ECDL Programme, the log-on-learn programme and also received a Bronze Gaisce. Brendan also volunteered to train Killarney Celtic unde-11s. At a training session Brendan, along with coach Eugene Cosgrave, saved the life of his fellow transition year student Tom Geaney who had gone into cardiac arrest. As a result, a new local project in Killarney has been set up called Operation Resuscita-
tion. The plan will offer specialist life-saving training to schools, sports clubs and individuals and aims to train hundreds of people in the locality, thereby increasing survival rates by up to 26%. Brendan’s courage has been recognised locally and nationally and he has appeared on Morning Ireland and The Afternoon Show on RTÉ 1 with Daithi O Se and Maura Derrane. The four distinction award winners were Sarah Finnan, Glenflesk; Darren Burns, Tralee; Clodagh Curran, Valentia; and Ross Sugrue, Tralee. Among the merit award winners were Mutaz Almusawi, Killarney; Owen Barry, Killarney; Roisin Casey, Castleisland; Chelsea Coffey, Killarney; Abigail Graham, Fossa; Michael McNabb, Killarney; Diarmuid Mullane, Kilcummin; and Katie O’Neill, Kilcummin. Donal Pierse, chairperson, Lee Strand, said: “Lee Strand in association with An Garda Siochána have always been proactive in acknowledging and identifying the positive work by young people and voluntary groups to enhance community life in Kerry. The awards are a fantastic celebration of their outstanding achievements.”
Brendan Coppinger, Killarney with his parents Jimmy and Bernie and standing back from left, Donal Pierse, Chairperson, Lee Strand, Sean, Catherine and Patrick Coppinger and Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahony. Pictures: Domnick Walsh
Overall winner Brendan Coppinger from Killarney, second from left, with his friends, Jack, Tom and Rob.
Merit award winner Michael McNabb with Tommy and Rose McNabb and standing back from left, Clare Looney, Garda Michael Courtney, Declan Sheehan, Lee Strand, Jerry Dwyer, Lee Strand, Sgt. Eileen O’Sullivan and Donal Pierse, Chairperson, Lee Strand.
Katie O’Neill, Kilcummin, who won a Garda Youth Achievement Award.
Merit award winner Diarmuid Mullane, Kilcummin with Carmel Howe Mullane, Dianne Howe and Bill Mullane, and standing from left, Garda Cecilia Scanlon, Pat O’Leary, Garda Michael Courtney, Declan Sheehan and Jerry Dwyer, Lee Strand, Sgt. Eileen O’Sullivan and Donal Pierse, chairperson, Lee Strand.
18
Killarney Advertiser 05.02.16