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The 2024 Laois/Offaly Garda Divisional Youth Awards took place last Friday night at The Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise. The awards ceremony is sponsored by Supermac's and The Killeshin Hotel and it honours young people from the Laois/Offaly Garda Division by presenting them with a Garda Youth Award in the company of their family and peers. A Garda Youth Award recognises the outstanding achievement of young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years who have undertaken exceptional work in their local communities or who have shown great determination in their own lives. The stories of the winners last night were emotional, inspiring and remarkable. They served to demonstrate the strength of character which our young people possess and leaves us in no doubt that our future is in safe hands. An Garda Síochána is delighted to award these young people for their outstanding achievements and their contribution to their local communities. Eighteen prestigious awards were presented in three categories. The Individual Award winners were1. Matty Doyle, Youth Work Ireland Laois 2. Luke Lynam, Family Carer’s Ireland 3. Charlie Beaudelot, Offaly Comhairle na nÓg 4. Rachel Fennelly, Laois Civil Defence5. Eoin Moylan, Colaiste Naomh Cormac The Group Award winners were1. Rahman Youth Group, Portlaoise 2. Dignity Partnership, Portlaoise 3. Portlaoise Resource Centre, Senior Youth Club 4. Cordelia Joyce & Elisha McDonagh, Offaly Traveller Movement 5. The Order of Malta Cadets, Portlaoise The Special Achievement winners were1. Michael Dennedy, St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr 2. Danny Talbot, Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington 3. Chandell Mongan, Sihann Mongan, Amelia Dooley, Ebony McDonagh, Fusion Tullamore4. Patryk Paszkiewicz, Old Bank Youth Centre, Portlaoise5. Max Power, Fusion Portlaoise 6. Liam Hoare, St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr The Special Recognition Award winners were 1. Freya Maher, Banagher College – Coláiste na Sionna 2. The Student Community of St. Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise The MC for the