Young Achievers Event 2022

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s annual Young Achievers returned this year for the first time since 2019 t celebrate the achievements of young people throughout the District in a range of disciplines.

Speaking at the Young Achievers event, the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said:

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all here to Omagh Leisure Complex this evening for this, the 5^th annual Young Achievers Reception.

I have attended and indeed hosted the Young Achievers Reception previously during my tenure as Chair of the Omagh Legacy Council and it was then and I know my predecessors as Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council widely regard it as one of the highlights of our term in office. I am particularly pleased that we have been able this year to return to an in-person event for the first time since 2019.

The year from April 2021 – March 2022 has been an exceptional year with almost 150 young people, shortlisted to receive an award, however, unfortunately not everyone could be with us this evening for a variety of reasons.

The recipients of Young Achievers recognition this year represent a wide range of categories including Athletics, Education, Gymnastics, Public Service, Heroism and Rowing to name but a few.  This reception affords us the opportunity to publicly recognise your achievements and the diverse contribution each of you have made to our District across a wide range of disciplines.

I would like to take opportunity to congratulate all the young people of the District whose individual achievements, while they may not have received public recognition, have nevertheless exceeded their own personal goals.

You, our young people, are the future of our District and you bring the right mix of skills, energy, enthusiasm, adaptability and willingness to learn and act to ensure that our District can continue to thrive and be a great place to live, work, visit and invest in. While most people when they hear about investing think of an economic meaning, investing time, energy and dedication to a sport or other discipline is equally important and that is what you have done in such large numbers this year.

I would like to convey my appreciation to the parents, guardians, coaches and teachers who have provided all our young people with the invaluable support and encouragement to enable them to excel and realise their potential.  It is important that we continue to support and encourage our young people so they can access opportunities for a positive future.

The famous footballer, Pele, once said “Success is no accident.  It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do”.

You may all be too young to remember Pele, but to my generation he was the Cristiano Ronaldo of his time. Every young boy who loved football wanted to be Pele. This quote perfectly encapsulates the traits required to be successful.

I would like to commend each of you for your hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and commitment to learn new skills which has enabled you to achieve success.  I am confident that your love for the activity associated with the discipline you are being recognised for, be that sport, music dancing or public service, also played a key role in motivating you to perform at the highest level.

On behalf of my fellow Councillors, the residents of the District and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate each and every one of you on your achievements.  You have done yourselves, your family and friends, your coaches, your teachers and the entire Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area proud.

Each of you are a beacon of hope and inspiration and I am confident that your success will inspire many other young people to excel and achieve their hopes and dreams.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening and I wish you every success for the future in your academic and sporting endeavours.

Thank you.