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Castleknock student wins all-Ireland award

18 year old Colm Mooney from Castleknock was one of two Irish teenagers named All Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year at a ceremony in the Hilton Hotel in Belfast. The other winner was Lisa O’Reilly (17) from Co. Limerick.

Colm and Lisa were among 20 finalists from both the Republic and Northern Ireland who were honoured at the Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards for outstanding volunteer service. Each of the finalists received a personal award of €500 and an engraved silver medallion.

For winning the event, both Colm and Lisa also received engraved gold medallions, crystal trophies for their schools, and €1,000 grants for charitable organisations of their choice. They will also visit Washington D.C. in early May to take part in a gathering of top youth volunteers from several other countries at the recognition events for the Prudential Spirit of Community awards.

Colm is a sixth year student of Castleknock Community College and has been the driving force in producing a booklet for teenagers suffering from cancer arising from his own experience with the disease. This is the second consecutive year that the college has had a student in the shortlist.

“What's going on? A guide for teenagers with cancer,” has had a major impact, as prior to the booklet there was no up to date guide available in the country for teenagers suffering from cancer. As part of the editing committee, Colm used his own experience of cancer to re-edit the booklet which was officially launched at the Mansion House in September 2007, where he addressed the audience.

The booklet has been distributed to teenagers throughout Ireland and has been essential reading for consultants, surgeons and nurses to give an insight into the mindset of a teenager with cancer.

Colm is also a volunteer with the group CanTeen Ireland and, with his help, his year-group raised €22,000 for cancer research.

Tom O’Brien, principal of Castleknock Community College, was full of praise for his student’s achievement. “Colm is a young man who gives selflessly at no little cost to himself. He is an inspiration to all," he said.

The selection committee that chose the two All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year included Pulitzer Peace Prize Laureate John Hume and Tom Arnold, CEO of Concern. Sarah-Jane Lalor, a fourth year student at Mount Sackville Secondary School was shortlisted for the final for her selfless work with people who have special needs.

Inspired by her brother Adam who has Downs Syndrome, Sarah-Jane works voluntarily at a youth club that gives people with special needs a place to go and have fun and is also heavily involved in fundraising and organising events for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The young student gives one-to-one care to autistic and Downs Syndrome children and takes time to organise specific tasks and games suited to the children's abilities. She is also a Special Olympics coach and chairs the Respect Committee in her school which works to raise awareness of those with Downs Syndrome.

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