Regional Award Ceremonies Show Rise in Silver Award Participants

Hundreds of eager Awardees, their PALs and families flocked to the historic locations of Brú Ború, Cashel Co. Tipperary and Trinity College, Dublin for the 2013 regional Silver Award ceremonies.

Kerry adventurer Mike O\’Shea was on hand to present the Awards in Brú Ború and Professor Aideen Long, Dean of Graduate Studies at Trinity College presented at the Dublin ceremony.

Mike was one of the first people in Ireland to achieve a Gaisce Gold Award and is no stranger to setting himself personal challenges.

He has spent five summers and one winter in the European Alps. He has also climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland in the winter. Internationally he has participated in a range of expeditions in Africa (Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya), Nepal, Pakistan (K2) and New Zealand (Mount Cook).

Sharing many of his inspirational stories, Awardees learned of Mike’s world travels and gained an insight into what it takes to do the Gold Award.

Professor Aideen Long proudly presented the Awards at the ceremony in Trinity College. Aideen is a scientist and currently develops academic policy in postgraduate education as Dean of Postgraduate Studies at TCD. She spoke of the importance of Gaisce from a professional perspective and from personal experience – her daughters have completed their Bronze and Silver Awards.

All Awardees promised to continue their commitment to bettering themselves and their community. One Silver Awardee, Gearóid Ó Broin from Co. Dublin, excitedly stated: “Gaisce is the way forward. I can’t wait to do my Gold”!