Young Achiever’s Event 2019

7th May 2019

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FODC Dancing Young Achievers Awards

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s annual Young Achiever’s Event took place at Omagh Leisure Complex on 12 April 2019 to celebrate the achievements of young people throughout the District across a wide range of disciplines.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Howard Thornton, said, “As Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to Omagh Leisure Complex this evening for the Young Achievers’ Recognition Event.

I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to our “young achievers” – you are our VIPs tonight – and to thank you all for turning out in such numbers.

This is the 4th Annual Young Achievers event run by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and this year, almost 200 young people were shortlisted, although not everyone can attend tonight for a variety of reasons.

This year’s recipients cover a wide range of disciplines from Education to the Arts and from Sport to Music and many other categories.

Tonight’s event gives the Vice Chairman and myself, on behalf of the Council, the opportunity to thank most sincerely you, our young people, for bringing such distinction to yourself and to the district.

We are incredibly proud of you all. You have been wonderful ambassadors not only for the Fermanagh and Omagh district but also for your peers.

My predecessors have all spoken very highly about this annual event. It has been one of the highlights of their term in office. When I look at the number of young people we are honouring this evening, and the eclectic mix of disciplines, I share their enthusiasm and sense of pride both from a civic perspective and indeed on a personal level also.

The Young Achievers’ reception is a unique event in that the focus is not on any specific aspect or discipline, but rather encompasses the full range of life in the Fermanagh and Omagh district and recognises the contribution our young people make.

It is important to us, as adults, to play our part to help develop our leaders of tomorrow and to inspire other young people. This event enables us to do this.

As a Council we value what you are doing, and the role you are playing to help ensure that the district is a quality place to live, work and visit. Anyone looking from the outside at the level of achievement which you have attained cannot fail to be impressed. By recognising your achievements, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is expressing its gratitude to you, our young people, on behalf of the people of the district.

Traits such as the discipline of sport, the compassion of caring and the sheer determination to overcome adversity are to be greatly admired, and this year’s achievers possess these qualities in abundance.

It would be impossible to highlight the attainments of all our recipients, but as in previous years, a short citation will be read out to accompany each achiever during the presentation of awards.

While this is undoubtedly your evening, it would nonetheless be remiss of me not to acknowledge and pay tribute in my address to the hundreds of young people in our district whose achievements have exceeded their own personal goals but which have not come into the public domain. To them, I would say hearty congratulations and I would ask them as I ask you, to keep up the good work and continue to strive to fulfil your potential.

You are the next generation of leaders in sport, education and community and public life.

You should all be most proud of your achievements and I hope that this evening’s event encourages you to continue in your endeavours to strive to be the best you can.

It is now my pleasant duty to make the presentations to our award winners.

This is the high point of the evening.

All that remains for me now is to wish that you all have an enjoyable night”.