Mayo student wins trip to France in leadership award

A Mayo student was among 20 to receive a Rotary Youth Leadership Event certificate from Rotary Ireland in Dublin.

Andrew Doherty, who is studying for his Leaving Certificate in St Gerald’s DLS College, Castlebar, was presented with the award in recognition of leadership capabilities which he has displayed in school extra-curricular activities.

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Andrew is on the school’s student council and plays with his Ceoltas group’s ceilí band and grupa cheoil.

As a result of his win, he was rewarded with an all-expense paid trip to Dublin, Belfast, and Strasbourg to examine all aspects of the running of government.

In Dublin, Andrew met with several TDs on a tour of the Seanad and Dail. A tour of Stormont followed, where he listened to debates from the visitor’s gallery between Northern Ireland’s politicians.

Finally, it was a trip to Strasbourg and the European Parliament, where he met the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mestola.

For Andrew, the trip was a great way to expand his perspective.

“Personally, the trip has given me a view of the world through other people’s eyes,” he stated, “both on our island and further afield in the EU.

“This has really shown me that we are not that different at all, whether it's people in the group from the North or young people from elsewhere in Europe.”

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For him, the trip north to Belfast was the best part of the trip.

“I had never been in the North of Ireland before, he said, “and I learnt so much from the mix of young people on the trip and also about their local government structure through the visit to City Hall and then Stormont.

“It was really fascinating to see the different way of life they lead.”