Trainees recognised for their exceptional contributions to Sail Training Ireland's Tall Ships voyages in 2023 were honoured at the Annual Awards Ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin.
The award ceremony, held on February 3rd, 2024, was hosted by the Lord Mayor Daithi De Roiste.
The 534 trainees who sailed on the tall ships last year were eligible for the awards, with the winners selected for their outstanding achievements. Since 2011, Sail Training Ireland (STIrl) has provided bursaries to over 3,500 young people from all backgrounds and abilities to participate in training and self-development programmes.
The 2024 Tall Ships Voyages Awards Ceremony winners and speakers at the Mansion House in Dublin
The charity aims to promote education and youth development through adventure, shared experiences, and challenge by introducing young people to life on a Tall Ship as a platform for personal development. Trainees included young people from Youth and Community Groups, residential care homes, Garda Diversion Projects, and Schools, drug rehabilitation programs, asylum seekers, and young people with visual, hearing, and physical impairments from across Ireland.
Dublin City Council and Dublin Port Company have been jointly supporting the charity since the Tall Ships Race Festival in 2012. In 2023, Dublin City Council's generous contribution helped 193 young people from Dublin participate in Sail Training Ireland's programmes.
Tall Ships Voyages Trainee of the Year Winner: Cillian Cooney with, MC Brian Turvey, Commander Brian Matthews, STIrl Chairman Robert Barker, and Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithi de Roiste
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Daithí de Róiste, expressed his delight at the progress made by the charity in promoting youth development and education. He said: “Sail Training Ireland promotes education and youth development through adventure, shared experiences, and challenge by introducing young people to life on a Tall Ship as a platform for personal development. The charity offers this opportunity to young people from all backgrounds and with all abilities."
Sail Training Ireland's Annual Award Winners
- Watch Leader/ Mentor of the Year: Peta Scott - Co. Wicklow
- Special Contribution Award 1: Thomas Dodd – Co. Cork
- Special Contribution Award 2: John McNally – Co Wicklow
- Special Contribution Award 3: Valerii Kholidnyi – Co. Dublin
- Special Contribution Award 4: Brogan Carthy – Co. Wexford
- Volunteer of the Year: Loraine Lynch – Co. Wicklow
- Asgard Award Nominating Org: Gorey Youth Needs – Co. Wexford
- Trainee of the year: Cillian Cooney – Co. Wexford
- Drogheda Sail Training Bursary: Charlie Wogan – Co. Meath
- Drogheda Sail Training Bursary: Lilou Conroy – Co. Meath
Sail Training Ireland's programs for 2024 include the Asgarda Armada Voyage featuring five vessels and over fifty trainees, Erasmus+ Youth Exchange between Ireland and The Netherlands, Spain, and Latvia, three STEM at Sea voyages incorporating ocean science at sea training workshops, thirty young people from Dublin’s North-East inner city participating as part of the Taoiseach’s taskforce NEIC project, and regional sail training schemes in Drogheda, Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Wexford, and Waterford.
The Department of Defence, Dublin City Council, and Dublin Port Company continue to support the charity in all that they do. Anyone interested in partaking in a voyage or organisations that work with young people who may benefit from such an experience can contact Sail Training Ireland at www.sailtrainingireland.com, email [email protected], or phone: 01 845 4773.
