Ulster GAA is delighted to celebrate its first-ever Joint Award Gold awardees.
Ulster GAA has been a licensed organisation since 2019, delivering the Joint Award (Gaisce – the President’s Award and Duke of Edinburgh Award).
Hundreds of young GAA members have completed the programme with Ulster GAA and their club, and now Ulster GAA is delighted to honour its first-ever Gold awardees.
Five young volunteers from Strabane Sigersons in Co. Tyrone, with another on schedule to complete her award by February 2027, have become Ulster GAA’s first-ever Gold Awardees.
The young people have spent the last two years working towards their award completing 52 weeks of volunteering at their local GAA club, 78 weeks playing Gaelic Games, and 26 weeks skills development.
On top of this the young people completed a four-day/three-night canoeing expedition with the Share Centre in Enniskillen, having completed their expedition training and practice expedition. The group also completed their residential with the Spirit of Paul McGirr, raising much needed funds for their trip of a lifetime which took them to Lusaka in Zambia to help build school libraries.
The Gold awardees will officially receive their awards in December, presented by Irish President Catherine Connolly, but last week Ulster GAA honoured these young people as Ulster GAA’s Trailblazers, succeeding at gold level.
Ulster GAA President Michael Geoghegan and Provincial Secretary Brian McAvoy met with the young people and congratulate them, their mentors and parents for their remarkable feat.
Michael Geoghegan said: “The partnership between Ulster GAA, Gaisce and the Duke of Edinburgh has been hugely successfully in providing young people with an opportunity to push themselves, to develop their skills and abilities and to achieve their goals succeeding in Bronze, Silver and now Gold.
“The six Strabane volunteers are history-makers, being Ulster GAA’s first ever Gold awardees and we are exceptionally proud of their dedication, hard work and resilience. We have no doubt that this programme has benefited and will benefit the young people greatly in their lives, both as they further their education and enter the workforce.
“The programme has also greatly benefited our clubs who gain the time, enthusiasm and talent of these young volunteers who will be future leaders.
“Congratulation to the six awardees and well done to Strabane Sigersons for mentoring the young people through this programme, in particular Ciaran, Judy and Kerry. I have no doubt others will now look to these young people in Strabane and will strive to achieve their gold also.”
For more information in getting involved in the Joint Award Programme, visit ulster.gaa.ie/thejointaward
By Michael Devlin Thu 22nd Oct
