The South East’s youngest leaders travelled to Wexford on Monday November 16th to compete in the Regional Final of the Rotary’s Youth Leadership Development Competition.
Following selections at the respective school and club stages of the competitions, the chosen representatives for the Rotary clubs of Carlow, Kilkenny, Thurles, Wexford and Youghal were interviewed by a panel of judges, who had the unenviable task of selecting just three of the finalists to participate in the Rotary’s Leadership Development Programme.
The Leadership Development Programme, which will take place from February 2nd -6th 2016, will see the 24 finalists from across Ireland, visit Dáil Éireann in Dublin, Stormont in Belfast and the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The quintet of female finalists were Aoife O’Sullivan (Carlow), Aoife O’Carroll (Kilkenny), Aoife Shanahan (Thurles), Katie Stone (Wexford) and Ciara McArdle (Youghal).
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr. Karl Fitzpatrick, chairperson of New Generations Projects in the Rotary Club of Wexford, said “The five girls here today are all self assured, confident and personable individuals, who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities through a broad range of initiatives and activities. It is fair to say, that the future of our country is in safe hands”.
Mr. Fitzpatrick then announced Aoife Shanahan and Katie Stone as the Regional Final runners up and that Ciara McArdle, Aoife O’Carroll and Aoife O’Sullivan had been selected to participate in the Leadership Development Competition.
President Elect of the Rotary Club of Wexford, Eddie Breen, said “The Rotary Club of Wexford was honoured to host the Regional Final of the Youth Leadership Development Competition this year, an initiative that duly recognises the achievements and potential of our next generation of leaders”. “I congratulate each of the five finalists on reaching this stage of the competition and I hope that the three regional representatives will enjoy the unique experiences that the Leadership Development Programme will present” added ” added Mr. Breen.
Photo: Pat O’Dwyer, Assistant Governor of Rotary Ireland, Ciara McArdle, representing The Rotary Club of Youghal, Katie Stone, representing The Rotary Club of Wexford, Aoife O’Sullivan representing The Rotary Club of Carlow, Aoife Shanahan representing The Rotary Club of Thurles, Aoife O’Carroll representing The Rotary Club of Kilkenny and Eddie Breen, President Elect of The Rotary Club of Wexford.