Katie named as Carlow Lions Club’s young ambassador

KATIE Byrne, a sixth-year student at Tullow Community School, recently became Carlow Lions Club’s ‘Young Ambassador of the 21st Century’ after a close-run competition against four other exceptional candidates in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. She was presented with the Joe McDermott Memorial Trophy by president of the Carlow Lions Dan McInerney.

Katie was rewarded because of her involvement with the ‘Community Roots Programme’, which is delivered by the Carlow Regional Youth Services (CRYS). Following on from this she was offered a volunteer position with Tullow Youth Project, located in The Bishop’s House, Tullow, where she volunteers several times a week after school.

She is also a member of the ‘Headstrong’ team in Tullow Community School, which promotes and fundraises for positive mental health, and Tullow Youth Project, supporting young adults aged 12-18 in the county with Type 1 Diabetes.

At school, Katie was chosen to train as a Meitheal leader and is part of the head team in Tullow CS.

Katie will now represent the Carlow Lions Club at the national district final, which will take place in January. The winner of that national competition receives a trophy and a bursary of €600 to be used for a community project.

This Lions Club international competition awards young people between the ages of 15 and 19 for their community service involvement, leadership accomplishments and speaking ability.

Five outstanding young candidates from various secondary schools across Carlow took part in the competition and demonstrated their exceptional leadership, volunteerism and community involvement to a panel of three judges who interviewed the candidates.

Carlow Lions Club president Dan McInerney described the participants as “truly inspiring”.

He continued: “Each candidate demonstrated compassion, leadership and a strong commitment to making a positive difference in their communities.

“Katie Byrne is a wonderful example of the values we seek to promote through the Young Ambassador programme, and we are confident she will represent Carlow Lions Club with distinction at the National District Final.”