No Name! Club Youth Awards 2022

The No Name! Club held the 36th annual National Youth awards in the Killeshin Hotel Portlaoise on Saturday, 28 May 2022. The No Name! Club National Host and Hostess of the Year 2022 were announced as Elbhira Jordan, Claremorris No Name! Club, and Colm Kelly, Headford No Name! Club.

Elbhira and Jordan were among six teenagers from our network of clubs across Ireland who made it to the final of the national competition. Also participating in the final were Clara Whelan Foxe of Kilkenny, Jess Donohue of Headford, Andrew Quirke of Mayfield and Colm Kingdon of Killarney. All represented their local clubs at the regional final in April and were chosen to go forward to the National Youth Awards final. In interviews on and off-stage, all six finalists spoke of their work in volunteering, community, club and school and their involvement in everything from student councils, to music and sport. They also acknowledged the campaigns run by their clubs, including partaking in Darkness into Light, raising funds for Pieta House and awareness for the important of mental health. The initiative and passion of these young people shone brightly, especially through their work for others – from working with children with autism and including everyone in sport and music, to leading fundraisers to support the people of Ukraine.

Guests were treated to a three-course meal and a disco that allowed club members from communities across Ireland celebrate their involvement with the No Name! Club and party in a safe, alcohol free, supervised setting. No Name! Clubs from Kilkenny, Headford, Claremorris, Kilbride, New Ross, Naas, Mayfield, Killarney and Finglas were represented on the night, as well as members of the board and No Name! Club founders Eamonn Doyle and Eddie Keher, with many more tuning in virtually to watch the awards streaming online throughout the evening.

As the first in-person awards since 2019, young people and volunteers were delighted to be back in-person at the highlight of the No Name! Club year after the significant challenges of the past two years. No Name Club were delighted to welcome everyone for an evening to celebrate the achievement of these young people and volunteers to maintain these clubs throughout this time.

All credits on photos to Vicky Comerford Photography.