Two County Roscommon teachers honoured at Gaisce PAL awards

Two County Roscommon teachers have been honoured for 15 years of service as Gaisce President’s Award Leaders (PALs).

Margaret Larkin, Gaisce PAL with Castlerea Community School, and Teresa Hession, Gaisce PAL with Mercy College, Roscommon were both honoured at a special ceremony.

Gaisce – The President’s Award hosted PALCON at Dublin Castle, a special conference dedicated to President’s Award Leaders.

The event celebrated the work of President’s Award Leaders (PALs) from all over Ireland who work on a voluntary basis supporting, encouraging and guiding young people who undertake their Gaisce Award each year.

To mark Gaisce’s 40th anniversary, a new tiered system of Civic Merit Awards for PALs was unveiled at the event. PALs who have supported young people taking part in the Gaisce programme were presented with the Laoch Award for 5 years' service, the Seaimpín Award for 10 years' service, and the Réalta Award for 15 years' service. A total of 111 committed PALs were honoured at the event.

Those honoured represent a variety of organisations that work with Gaisce, including post-primary schools, youth organisations, youth diversion services, disability services, youth justice and prison services.

CEO of Gaisce Avril Ryan said that the extraordinary President’s Award Leaders make the Gaisce journey possible for young people, amounting to over half a million in the past 40 years. 

"Now more than ever, we want young people to continue developing their potential through the Award, to see it as a pathway that grows with them and helps them to embrace opportunities. The President’s Award Leaders are the bridge to those opportunities for young people, opening the door to what’s possible. We thank them for their dedicated service to young people undertaking the Gaisce Award," said the CEO