St Mary’s Aghagallon member is Tranlink Ulster GAA Volunteer of the Month for September

Fifteen-year-old Sophia Walsh from St Mary’s GAC Aghagallon in Co. Antrim has been awarded the Translink Ulster GAA Young Volunteer of the Month award for September 2024.

The award is presented each month to young volunteers whose efforts best demonstrate the volunteering ethos and community spirit of the GAA.

Sophia has been volunteering weekly with the club’s Games For All team since its formation last year, helping out at events and blitzes throughout the province during the year. During the summer, she helped organise Antrim’s first ever Games For All Cúl Camp which was held in the Aghagallon club.

She has also enthusiastically taken on other volunteering roles within the club, helping on a weekly basis with the newly formed Gaelic for Mothers & Others team, refereeing underage matches and assisting regularly at various tournament and events, as well as her playing role as captain of her U16 team who reached their first county final last year.

In March, Sophia volunteered take part as a guest speaker at the Ulster GAA ‘Follaine: Spring Into Life’ Wellbeing Event. The youngest member among the panel of adults, she spoke impressively about the impact of her volunteering and what it meant to her personally.

Presenting Sophia with her award, Ulster GAA Public Relations Officer Michael McArdle said:

“Sophia is a great example of a young GAA volunteer who immerses themselves in their club. Her dedication and willingness to contribute to the Aghagallon GAA community through her various roles is hugely impressive.

“Her passion and enthusiasm in promoting Games For All in her club is particularly admirable, and by taking part in the Ulster GAA Follaine event she has displayed a level of leadership beyond her years.”

Brian McConville, Senior Inspector at Translink, said: “This is a fantastic example of community spirit in action and the positive impact volunteering has within local areas. The award is testament to the work and commitment being delivered by young people across the province.”

Applications for the next Young Volunteer of the Month award are now open. To nominate a young person aged 14-24 for the accolade, visit ulster.gaa.ie/youngvolunteeraward