Holly is Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club's new Young Ambassador of the 21st Century

Pictured above: Holly Kirby is presented with the Lions Club plaque by last year’s Young Ambassador competition winner Finn McLoughlin. Young Ambassador contest officer Shirley O’Shea is pictured far left and Carrick Lions Club President Stephanie Keating is far right. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

The achievements of young people in the community were celebrated by Carrick-on-Suir & District Lions Club at its annual awards and presentations for the Peace Poster and Young Ambassador of the 21st Century competitions.

The awards ceremony took place in the Nano Nagle Community Resource Center in Carrick-on-Suir on December 2.

Holly Kirby, representing Carrick-on-Suir United FC, was selected as the Lions Club’s Young Ambassador of the 21st Century and will go onto represent the club in the national competition early next year.

Six young people, nominated by their schools and community groups, participated in the local Young Ambassador of the 21st Century competition, which recognises those engaged in outstanding community service involvement and who display leadership skills and speaking ability.

The programme encourages young people to see community service as an integral part of leadership skills.

Holly’s proposed project will be focused on connecting with older people in an intergenerational space where both young and older people can come together and learn from each other through organised social events and workshops where tech knowledge, ideas, and reflections on the past can be shared between them.

Last year’s Young Ambassador winner Finn McLoughlin presented the award to Holly.

His Young Ambassador competition project the ‘Stay Connected’ initiative, which involved organising substance misuse education and awareness workshops in the town’s secondary schools and community, is still ongoing.

The other Young Ambassador competition finalists were Ailish Walsh and Muireann Crowley of Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Carrick; Fionn Power of Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick; Fiach McGrath of St Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas and Evan O’Dwyer of Scouts.

Young Ambassador competition judge Fiona Hennessy, with finalists Ailish Walsh, Scoil Mhuire, Fiach McGrath of St Declan’s Community College Kilmacthomas and the overall winner Holly Kirby representing Carrick United FC

Carrick Lions Club members thanked the judges Fiona Hennessy, Denis Coghlan and Ann Shanahan who had a difficult task in picking the winner as all candidates were involved in terrific projects passionate to them.

Lions Club Young Ambassador Officer Shirley O’Shea was also thanked for her help and guidance in coordinating the competition.

Shirley said it was a privilege to work with young people who were inspirational and shone through in their project presentations.

Club President Stephanie Keating and Lion Ann Ellis were presented with a bouquet of flowers for serving on the organising committee of the Lions Europa Forum 2025in Dublin in November.

Stephanie and Ann represented Carrick Lions Club as Young Ambassador competition Officer and Programme Director respectively.

Carrick-on-Suir & District Lions Club members pictured at the Young Ambassador of the 21st Century and Peace Poster night. They include Stephanie Keating, Pat Murphy and Ann Ellis in the front row with presentations made to them at the event.