Kildare soccer star presented with Garda Youth Award

Awards recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community

An Garda Síochána has held its annual National Garda Youth Awards which recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community.
 
This year’s event took place at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise and acknowledged the remarkable contributions made in a number of Garda Divisions which included Clare/Tipperary, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny/Carlow, Mayo/Roscommon/Longford, Laois/Offaly, Limerick, Westmeath and Wexford.
 
The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris presented each of the 24 awards.
An Garda Síochána held its annual National Garda Youth Awards which recognise exceptional young people aged 13-21 who have positively contributed to their community.
 
This year’s event took place at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise and acknowledged the remarkable contributions made in a number of Garda Divisions which included Clare/Tipperary, Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny/Carlow, Mayo/Roscommon/Longford, Laois/Offaly, Limerick, Westmeath and Wexford.
 
The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris presented each of today’s 24 awards.
 

Seán Óg Boland – Kildare

Séan Og Boland was involved in sports from a very early age.

He began with the Kildare Lily Óg Academy, moved up to his local club in Sallins and soon began to play soccer with Peamount United. In 2022, Séan Og’s soccer dreams were put on hold when, while playing a match, he suffered a major fracture to his femur.

When taken to the hospital, Séan Og was found to have a rare congenital birth defect that effected both of his knees. On top of having to recover from his fractured leg, Séan Og had to undergo five significant operations in 12 months to reconstruct both of his knees. After that came the rehab and recovery programme which helped him quite literally get back on his feet again.

To go from the top level of sports to not knowing if he would ever play again would have been devastating for anyone else, but Séan Og stayed positive all throughout his health scare. As soon as he could walk again, Séan Og started working as a volunteer coach with Sallins GAA. Soon after he was fundraising for the organisation to boot.

Today, Séan Og has made it back to the pitch. Just 15 months after his fracture, Séan Og returned to training with his local hurling team and was awarded a Guard of Honour. After missing just one season with Peamount United, he has now re-trialled and is back on their Under-17 Premier Squad.

They recently won the SFAI U17 premier soccer title, and was part of the Sallins Minor team that won the Division County 3 title, and Séan Og was man of the match in the final.

Séan Og has recently attained the Bronze Gaisce Award. We can all stand to learn something from Séan Og’s diligence and determination. Watching the progress in his recovery is an inspiration to us all.

This year’s recipients as selected by a national panel were:
 
Community Safety Award

• Orlaith Heaney – Hollymount, Co. Mayo
• St Leo’s College Young Social Innovators – Carlow
• Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg
• Aisha Alameen Betro – Balbriggan, Dublin
• Ciara and Saoirse Murphy – Tralee, Co. Kerry
 
Special Achievement Award

• Michael Dennedy – Laois Offaly
• Liam Costelloe – Limerick
• John Beary – Wexford
• Courtney Maughan – Dublin West
• Seán Óg Boland – Kildare
 
Group Award

• Enniscorthy Youthreach – Wexford
• Walk ‘Cause You Can – Cork West
• Raheny All Stars – Dublin North
• The Big Tree – Dublin West
• Go Yellow – Mayo / Roscommon / Longford
 
Individual Award

• Luke Graham – Dublin South Central
• James Casserly – Dublin West
• Aisling Sexton – Limerick
• Cara Darmody – Clare / Tipperary
• Daniel Spaight – Clare / Tipperary
 
Special Recognition Award

• Tyrone Donoghue – Westmeath
• Eimear O’Loughlin – Clare Tipperary
• Freya Maher – Laois Offaly
• Cormac Petrie – Mayo / Roscommon / Longford
 
Speaking at today’s ceremony, Assistant Commissioner for Road Safety and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman said, "Our Garda National Youth Awards are about recognising the incredible work done by young people in communities all over Ireland for the sake of others.
 
"They often don’t get enough credit for the variety of challenges they face in today’s society and particularly for how they responded to the difficulties they encounter, but they support one another and help their communities with great enthusiasm.
 
"Each one of this year’s recipients demonstrate all that is wonderful about our young people, and as Gardaí we are so proud of their hard work. We hope the Garda National Youth Awards are a fitting acknowledgement of the positive and meaningful contribution that these young people are making to society.”