Garda awards to honour young people in Cork city

An audience of 150 people will gather on Wednesday evening to laud the achievements of the winners of the 2025 Cork City Garda Youth Awards.

The awards celebrate the contributions made by young people, aged between 13 and 21, to their communities.

There are four award categories: Individual, group, special achievement, and community safety.

The special achievement category recognises young people who have come through personal challenges and difficult circumstances to improve their communities.

The community safety awards recognise young people who have identified a crime-prevention or safety issue in their community and taken steps to address it.

Sergeant Stephen O’Shea, from the Cork Juvenile Liaison Office, told The Echo that the variety of categories acknowledges personal circumstances and celebrates diversity.

“While the youth awards are presented to the specific award winners, they are also a recognition of the role played by their families, communities, schools, youth groups, sporting, community, and voluntary organisations that have supported the young people in their lives.”

“Many people will have given freely of their time to assist in the development of the youth.

“A thank you should also go to those who took the time to fill out the nomination forms, as, without their participation, the youth awards would not be possible.”

The first Garda Youth Awards were held in West Cork Division in 1995, the brainchild of Garda James O’Mahony, Bandon, who is now retired. The first Cork City Garda Divisional Youth Awards were held in 1997.

Nowadays, all Garda divisions hold their own awards and, since 2021, the Garda National Youth Awards have been annual.

Sgt O’Shea added sincere thanks to awards sponsors The Echo, the Rochestown Park Hotel, Blizzard, Eirneside Engineering, and Johnson & Johnson Innovative.

The 2025 Cork City Garda Youth Awards will be held on Wednesday evening, November 19, at the Rochestown Park Hotel.