- Teen girls receive Irish Girl Guides’ Trail Blazer National Guide Award –

Four Kinsale teenagers received the Trail Blazer National Guide Award – Irish Girl Guides’ highest award – at a special ceremony in Croke Park. The girls, who are aged 14 and 15, were among 135 Irish Girl Guides (IGG) members who travelled from all corners of the country to receive the award and, with their Guide leaders and families, celebrate reaching the pinnacle of Guiding.

Caoimhe Barrett, Aoife O’Brady, Katie Walsh and Natasha Hayes of Kinsale Guides each received a Trail Blazer gold pin from Irish Girl Guides (IGG) President Maureen Murphy and a National Guide Award certificate from IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon.

Congratulating the recipients, IGG President Maureen Murphy said, “It is a privilege to be here today to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our Trail Blazers who have all shown commitment in completing the challenges and, in doing so, putting your individual footprint on your tasks. You are inspirational, you will inspire younger members and take your learning and experiences gained into your communities and wider society.”

IGG’s Honorary Ambassador Dr Niamh Shaw said she was “especially excited” to attend the National Guide Awards to celebrate and acknowledge all the recipients’ outstanding achievements and contributions to the Irish Girl Guides. “I want you to keep contributing your very best to everything you pursue in life because you are our future, Ireland's future,” she said.

“We can create any future we want if we dream big enough and work hard enough,” she continued. “I can already see that working hard comes easy to you all, so nothing can possibly stop you from becoming whatever you want in your life.”

Carol Stanley, Assistant Chair of IGG Guide Branch, said that, without the hard work and commitment of the 135 girls, there would be no celebrations: “This award is made in recognition of the successful completion of a series of challenges, including teamwork activities, outdoor survival skills, community service, global awareness and working with younger members of Irish Girl Guides to help them develop confidence, independence and essential life-skills.

“We are delighted for you all and we all know that you have worked to your fullest potential to receive this award and hope you continue to use many of the life-skills you have achieved wherever life takes you in the future.”

Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age 5+ and volunteer leaders from age 18+. Previous experience of Guiding is not necessary. To find out more, see www.irishgirlguides.ie. Tel: 01 6683898.

Kinsale Guides - Pictured at the National Guide Awards in Croke Park are Caoimhe Barrett, Aoife O’Brady, Katie Walsh and Natasha Hayes of Kinsale Guides with their Guide Leaders Carol-Anne O’Reilly and Breda Walsh, and (left) Irish Girl Guides President Maureen Murphy and (right) IGG Chief Commissioner Helen Concannon. Robbie Reynolds Photography.