Speech by President Connolly at Gaisce Gold Awards Ceremony
Royal Hospital Kilmainham, 15 December 2025
A chairde,
Tá fíor-áthas orm a bheith anseo libh in Ospidéal Ríoga Chill Mhaighnean agus muid ag ceiliúradh na n-éachtaí iontacha atá bainte amach ag na daoine óga a bhí páirteach i nGaisce - Gradam an Uachtaráin.
I am delighted to be here with you on this exciting occasion as we celebrate the significant achievements of young people who participated in Gaisce, the President’s Award.
Is ócáid ar leith í ócáid an lae inniu ar go leor cúiseanna. Tá sé 40 bliain ó bunaíodh Gaisce - Gradam an Uachtaráin chun comóradh a dhéanamh ar Bhliain Idirnáisiúnta na nÓg na Náisiún Aontaithe, a sheol Uachtarán an lae, an Dochtúir Patrick J. Hillery go hoifigiúil.
Tá méadú as cuimse tagtha ar Gaisce ón am sin i leith. Ní raibh sé ar fáil ach do chúig cheantar ar fud na tíre ag an tús, ach ó 2005 bhí daoine óga ar fud an oileáin ábalta páirt a ghlacadh ann.
Cuireann sé gliondar ar mo chroí a bheith in ann a rá libh gur chláraigh níos mó na 520,000 duine óg do Gaisce, go dtí seo, agus gur bronnadh Gradam, cré-umha, airgead nó ór ar níos mó ná 250,000 acu siúd.
Dar ndóigh, ar an lá speisialta seo, is Gradam Ór, an gradam is airde, a bhéas á bhronnadh!
Many of you embarked on a range of personal skills development – from fleece-making to learning a range of musical instruments, including the harp and saxophone, studying for An Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge, studying Mandarin, undertaking literacy skills with the National Adult Literacy Agency, baking with children who have additional needs, while others have learned carpentry skills, fencing, trampoline coaching and taekwondo.
Gaisce participants volunteered and helped communities in a myriad of ways – including working with Water Safety Ireland, maintaining rural roads and organising litter collections, playing music for residents of nursing homes, assisting with park-runs, working in community gardens, participating in peer leadership programmes and climate action groups.
Your adventure journeys were undertaken in a variety of Irish locations – the Wicklow Way, the Lough Derg Way, hiking from Doneraile to Killarney, Liscannor to Kinvara, Achill Island, the Barrow Way, the Ring of Kerry, the Camino de Mullingar, and the Royal Canal Way – and I understand that some of you went further afield – to Sweden, the Camino de Santiago, Cumbria and Medjugorje. It sounds like an action-packed experience was had by all participants.
Go maire bhur bhfuinneamh agus bhur bhfonn eachtraíochta!
I want to take this opportunity today to thank the 1,300 President’s Award Leaders (PALs) who guide and assist all these remarkable young people through what is often a challenging journey, without whom we would not be here today at this wonderful celebration. Their commitment demonstrates a committed, active and inclusive citizenship at its best.
May I acknowledge too the Gaisce Youth Ambassadors, a new initiative aimed at former Gaisce awardees who will both represent and inspire – sharing their Gaisce stories, connecting with their communities, and showing others the possibilities that come with stretching yourself and maybe even venturing into the unknown.
I wish to recognise and thank all of those involved in Gaisce for providing the framework through which you pursued these formative endeavours. I commend the Gaisce Council, led by its Chair, Áine Kerr, the Chief Executive, Avril Ryan, and all her team, including the development officers, project officers, and all those who have made, and continue to make, Gaisce the great success that it is today.
Is sibhse a dhéanann cinnte go gcuirtear na deiseanna iontacha seo ar fáil do dhaoine óga; deiseanna a chuidíonn leo cur lena gcuid scileanna saoil agus taithí a fháil nach bhfaightear laistigh den oideachas foirmiúil.
To everyone receiving the Gaisce Gold award, each of your individual stories reminds us of the immense potential that lies within each and every one of us, no matter our circumstances. You have acquired new skills and improved old ones, and discovered that, with practice and diligence, you were capable of more than you might have known.
Today at this awards ceremony we mark an ending, the achievement of the highest Gaisce distinction, but also I hope a beginning for what will be a lifetime of active citizenship, as you continue to be members, not only of your local and national communities, but also of the global community of this fragile planet.
The same commitment that you have displayed in your achievement today – the resolution demanded to master a skill, the fortitude required to complete a long and difficult journey, the compassion and solidarity you have shown through your community work – these same qualities will prove invaluable to you in facing the challenges that life brings.
Indeed, it may sometimes seem difficult to imagine the difference that any single individual can make. Your achievements have shown what is possible. You have taken courage in your hands with countless acts of kindness, compassion and solidarity. You have made an enormous difference.
Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine agus sin ceacht fíor-thábhachtach atá foghlamtha agaibhse agus sibh ag saothrú an Ghradaim seo. Tuigeann sibhse go mbaineann muid ar fad le chéile, is cuma cárbh as sinn, is cuma cé chomh cumasach nó ealaíonta nó cruthaitheach is atá muid, tá áit ann dúinn ar fad. Tuigeann sibhse go gcaithfidh muid a bheith fáilteach dá chéile, oscailte don duine nach bhfuil fós ar aithne againn. Is ó na tréithe sin a chruthaítear domhan síochánta.
Let us look forward with hope and courage. I have no doubt that your leadership will play a very important role in shaping the future of our country.
Is laochra óga na tíre seo sibhse agus is cúis bróid sibh do bhur muintir agus bhur gclanna ar fad. Comhghairdeas ó chroí libh uilig, bainigí sult agus tairbhe as an gcuid eile den lá.