Cork young people get Garda Youth Awards

Three young people from Cork have been honoured at the National Garda Youth Awards for their outstanding contributions to their communities.

The first Garda Youth Awards, held in the West Cork Division in 1995, were the brainchild of retired garda, James O’Mahony, from Bandon.

The first Cork City Garda Divisional Youth Awards were held in 1997, and the first National Garda Youth Awards were established in 2019, to recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have gone above and beyond in making a difference.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 100 young people gathered in Co Laois for a special ceremony to acknowledge the contributions of award recipients from across the country.

Among those honoured were two teenagers from West Cork who, in September of last year, intervened when they met a distressed man standing at a cliff edge. Naoise Quinn and Ailíse O’Sullivan stayed with the man, keeping him safe and calm until gardaí arrived.

Nominated by Garda Adrian Holland for a special recognition award, they were praised for their “spontaneous and courageous” response to a crisis situation.

“Despite their young age, both Naoise and Ailíse displayed remarkable calmness, maturity, and presence of mind in a high-pressure situation,” their citation read.

“Together, they managed the crisis effectively, demonstrating teamwork, empathy, and extraordinary courage.”

Honoured with a special recognition award was Bakhtyar Nabi, who lives in Clonakilty.

He and his brother left Afghanistan and spent nine months travelling to Ireland. Upon arriving in Ireland, they stayed in Dublin, and then Maynooth, before settling in an Ipas centre in Clonakilty.

Since then, he joined a cricket team in Cork city and has been picked to play for the Munster team. Mr Nabi is now studying for his Leaving Certificate.

In the Ipas centre, he helps other residents with childminding and cooking.

“Bakhtyar has faced unimaginable hardship, yet he remains determined to better himself and help those around him.”