Cian O Grady Named Youth Volunteer of the Year

Cian O’Grady a student from St John the Baptist Community College has been named All Ireland Youth Volunteer of the Year for his hard work and voluntary assistances to his local community.

Cian O’Grady was nominated as a joint winner of the award along with hundreds of other secondary school students throughout Ireland in the 2016 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards.

He will travel on an all-expenses paid trip to Washington DC, as part of his prize, to meet up with youth volunteers from across America and partake in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards ceremony.

Cian, who is in sixth year and from Herbertstown, has taken on volunteering in his local community and in the wider Limerick area. He volunteers in the soup kitchen for St Vincent de Paul and at St Michael’s nursing home in Caherconlish.

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His main role is to help organise the street festivals and family fun days in the community. Cian also helps provide dinners in the local hall six times a year, which allows locals and older people to come together for a social afternoon.

Cian also sits on the Tidy Towns committee in his area and volunteers with the Simon Community to raise funds for homeless people in Limerick each Christmas.

“Cian is a great role model for all students who has the respect of all in the school”, said Principal Mary Jones.

Another local student, David Boyce from Askeaton, also reached the awards final this year. David received €500 and a silver medallion, presented by multi-platinum selling songwriter, music producer and guest of honour, Niall Breslin, aka Bressie.

David is a fifth year student at Colaiste Mhuire where he started an anti-bullying committee in 2012. The committee acts as a support system for persons affected by bullying by providing them with someone to talk to.

David also acts as a volunteer at West Limerick 102 Radio to support the local community, is an education adviser in the Irish Second Level Students Union and volunteers in Limerick Comhairle Na nOg.

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