Cork City Garda Youth Awards winners ‘not waiting for the future to happen... they are building it’

The Sergeant Ben Flahive memorial award has been bestowed upon a Cork volunteer, John Looney, who has helped hundreds of children, while 10 young people have also been recognised for their community work.

At the annual Cork City Garda Youth Awards on Wednesday evening, some 150 people gathered in the Rochestown Park Hotel to laud the achievements of the winners.

The awards celebrate the contributions of young people, aged between 13 and 21, while the Sergeant Ben Flahive award is named after the late Cork garda and Douglas GAA man, who passed away in 2019, having helped countless young people.

The awards are sponsored by the Rochestown Park Hotel, Blizzard, Eirneside Engineering, and Johnson & Johnson Innovative and in association with The Echo.

Fianna Fáil councillor Tony Fitzgerald, in place of the Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, said that the awards represented the very best of Cork.

“The young people we recognise this evening are not waiting for the future to happen, because they are already building it,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly was represented at the awards by Deputy Commissioner Eileen Foster.

This year’s Sergeant Ben Flahive memorial award was presented to John Looney, who founded Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club in 1994, helping children with special needs, illnesses, and great challenges.

A community safety award was presented to Douglas GAA Club stalwart David Flynn, who has scoliosis and was described in his citation as “a shining example of youth giving back selflessly”.

Also receiving a community safety award was Coláiste Éamann Rís student Jayden Browne, who was cited as “the definition of volunteerism”, constantly looking out for others and making his school and his community a better place.

An individual award went to Ballincollig Community School’s autism advocate, Sean Tiernan, for making his school community stronger and more inclusive.

Whiskers And Wisdom, consisting of Gaia Linehan and Lucy Daunt, received a group award for their storybook, Matilda’s Mind, which helps children with autism.

Mixed martial arts world champion Louise Brady was given an individual award for her voluntary work in coaching as many as 30 young people in her club, acting as a positive role model in her area.

An individual award also went to Ciara Daly, for her “truly inspirational” work and “integral role” as a volunteer leader with Blackpool Youth Club.

A special achievement award went to Liam Coleman, who recovered from a brain aneurism to work with Foróige Glanmire, Glanmire Community College, Riverstown Boxing Club, and Mayfield Community Training Centre.

A special achievement award also went to Dylan Thomas and Charlotte Slattery, who lost their mother at an early age and then had to become their father’s primary carer, and have been described as “a source of inspiration for all of their classmates, teachers, peers and neighbours”.

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.