Some 64 young adults from around Ireland were presented with Gaisce gold awards by President Mary McAleese at Dublin Castle yesterday.
The 19 young men and 45 young women each achieved four personal goals to qualify for the awards presentation at the State Apartments.
Recipients travelled with their families from all over the country including Cork, Galway, Donegal, Wexford and Monaghan to take part in the ceremony, which marked the 22nd year of the programme.
A record 13,600 young people from the ages of 15 to 25 participated in the Gaisce programme in 2006.
The President's Award is non-competitive and given at three levels: bronze, silver and gold. Participants must complete a task in four areas: community involvement, personal skills development, physical recreation, and adventurous expedition.
Once the challenge agreed between the participant and their leader is achieved, the participant earns the award.
Speaking at the ceremony yesterday, Mrs McAleese said she thought she'd dreamt the weekend and that a rugby ball would be thrown at any minute.
"Last Saturday was a brilliant day, wasn't it?" she asked, receiving a warm round of applause.
On the achievements of the Gaisce award-winners, she said they had a love of life, a sense of responsibility towards their community, a hunger to learn, and "when they were tested to their limits . . . they hung on in there".
"The Gaisce awards are a phenomenal empowerment of our young people," she added.
She also praised the President's Award Leaders, who supported the young people in achieving their goals.
Among the recipients was Seán Donnelly of Dublin City University, who told the audience that participating in the Gaisce Awards was a journey of self-discovery. He took up snowboarding, learned piano and guitar, travelled the West Highland Way, climbed Ben Nevis and started a unit of the Order of Malta in inner-city Dublin. "Seeing as it took me longer than most to complete the award, I think the main thing that I learned is not to lose sight of your goal," he said.
Valerie Clohessy of the Corpus Christi pipes and drums band in Moyross, Limerick, received the award with two other band members.
She learned a musical instrument, volunteered with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and travelled to Peru for two weeks.
"I have had experiences I never thought possible," she said. "Gaisce has helped me to discover confidence, leadership and friendships."
