Pictured in Croke Park are Caoimhe Barrett, Aoife O’Brady, Katie Walsh and Natasha Hayes of Kinsale Guides with their Guide Leaders Carol-Anne O’Reilly and Breda Walsh, and (left) IGG President Maureen Murphy and (right) IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon.
Seven West Cork teenagers received the Trail Blazer National Guide Award – Irish Girl Guides’ highest award – at a special ceremony in Croke Park.
The girls, who are aged 14 and 15, were among 135 Irish Girl Guides (IGG) members who travelled from all corners of the country to receive the award and, with their Guide leaders and families, celebrate reaching the pinnacle of Guiding.
Caoimhe Barrett, Aoife O’Brady, Katie Walsh and Natasha Hayes of Kinsale Guides and Rebecca Corcoran, Erica Mahony and Eve Cave of St Peter’s Guides, Bandon, each received a Trail Blazer gold pin from Irish Girl Guides (IGG) President Maureen Murphy and a National Guide Award certificate from IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon.
Congratulating the recipients, IGG President Maureen Murphy said, “It is a privilege to be here today to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our Trail Blazers who have all shown commitment in completing the challenges and, in doing so, putting your individual footprint on your tasks. You are inspirational, you will inspire younger members and take your learning and experiences gained into your communities and wider society.”
IGG’s Honorary Ambassador Dr Niamh Shaw said she was “especially excited” to attend the National Guide Awards to celebrate and acknowledge all the recipients’ outstanding achievements and contributions to the Irish Girl Guides. “I want you to keep contributing your very best to everything you pursue in life because you are our future, Ireland’s future,” she said.
“We can create any future we want if we dream big enough and work hard enough,” she continued. “I can already see that working hard comes easy to you all, so nothing can possibly stop you from becoming whatever you want in your life.”
Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. Previous experience of Guiding is not necessary. To find out more, see www.irishgirlguides.ie. Tel: 01 6683898.
