Gaisce – The President’s Award has announced the 14 young people who will make up the second Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel and they include Rónán Blake (17) from Ennis Co. Clare.
The panel consists of 14 young people from all around Ireland, aged 16 to 22, and will run until December 2026. The panel’s primary goal is to advocate and be ambassadors for Gaisce among their peers and the broader youth audience while actively collaborating with the Gaisce team to enhance the award experience for other young people.
The Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel represents a diverse group of young people who are passionate about Gaisce and bringing meaningful positivity and growth to young people in Ireland. Throughout their term, panel members will participate in workshops, attend events, develop new skills, and engage in consultation and decision-making spaces. They will explore themes such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusion, and diversity. Additionally, they will benefit from the chance to learn from and engage with experienced guest speakers.
This year, Gaisce is thrilled to welcome back three members of the inaugural Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel – Ebunoluwa Jamgbadi from Roscommon, Eoin Moylan from Offaly and Eimear O’Daly from Dublin. Their leadership, insight and experience from the past year will provide continuity while helping to guide and support the new ambassadors as they begin their journey.
The ambassadors will play a key role in championing the Gaisce Award among their peers, in their local communities, and at the national level and helping shape and enhance the award experience for future participants.
Speaking on the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel, Avril Ryan, CEO, Gaisce – The President’s Award, said: ‘’ I am delighted to welcome a new group of amazing young people to our second Youth Ambassador Panel and to welcome back some familiar faces. We are committed to championing the voices of young people from all around Ireland and from a wide range of backgrounds.
his panel brings fresh perspectives, creativity and energy, and we look forward to seeing the ambassadors embrace all the opportunities that come with being part of the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel throughout 2026.”
Gaisce – The President’s Award is Ireland’s National Youth Award. It is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, to encourage young people to realise their potential through a proven Positive Youth Development Programme that provides structure, support, and certification for non-formal learning experiences for young people aged 14 to 25. The Award inspires young people to flourish through challenge, engage with their communities, build self-belief and skills, embrace adventure and wellbeing, and be recognised for their achievements.
The Gaisce programme has three progressive Award Levels -Bronze, Silver, and Gold. For each Award, participants must undertake Challenge Area activities, including Personal Skill, Community Involvement, Physical Recreation, and an Adventure Journey, with each Award level requiring a greater level of time and commitment. The Award is non-competitive and is led by each participant’s own choices and initiative.
The Gaisce programme is delivered nationally by President’s Award Leaders (PALs) in Gaisce Award Partner (GAP) organisations, including secondary schools, third-level institutions, second-chance and further education services, youth services, disability organisations, sporting organisations, uniformed organisations, youth justice, prison and probation services, organisations working with young refugees and asylum seekers, and more.
Gaisce – The President’s Award was established in 1985 to mark the UN’s International Year of Youth and was launched in Áras an Uachtaráin by President, Dr. Patrick J. Hillery, Gaisce’s founding patron. Since then, the patronage has passed from President to President, reflecting a shared and enduring commitment to recognising and supporting young people.
In 1999, aligned with the commitments of the Good Friday Agreement, the Joint Award Initiative (JAI) was established. The JAI is a unique partnership between Gaisce – The President’s Award and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which offers young people in Northern Ireland a choice of certification for their Award achievement – they can choose to receive a Gaisce – The President’s Award, a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or an International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold Award levels.
The Gaisce Award is recognised as a valuable non-formal education certification in Ireland and in more than 130 countries through our partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.