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Two JCI Dublin nominees won 'The Outstanding Young Person' award |
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Eight of Ireland’s most inspirational young people were honoured on 16th of May at an Award Ceremony in Marlay House, Dublin. The Outstanding Young Persons of the Year Awards, presented by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ireland, are part of an international awards programme whose past winners include John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Hector Ó’hEochagáin.
JCI Dublin had two winners at this years event. Sean Keenan, an avid athlete from Longford and Sean Coughlan, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
Seán Keenan was nominated for his outstanding achievements in sports over the last number of years. These achievements range from playing basketball for Ireland in at the Boston Celtic Stadium in 1999 to setting a Connaught record for the 1500 meters in Claremorris for the Connaught games. In 2001 he defended his title and took one minute off his previous best. He was also selected to be part of an elite Athletic team to partake in the European Championships in Debrecen in Hungary in August that year and to travel to Shanghai, China for the World Games in October 2007. Sean has achieved all of these amazing accomplishments, despite his prognosis at birth that he would never walk. He is a great ambassador for Down Syndrome Ireland and has achieved a number of accolades.
Another JCI Dublin nominee, Sean Coughlan is the Chief Executive of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, an Irish not-for-profit organisation established to encourage and support the development of social entrepreneurship.
Sean believes that by launching Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and by encouraging others to join the movement, he can help to create a space for social entrepreneurship in modern Ireland. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland supports the early stage development of social entrepreneurs and consists of technical training, peer networking, mentoring and links to other social entrepreneur networks.
Sean personally helps to keep Social Entrepreneurs Ireland funded through both private foundations and individual donations.
The ceremony in Marlay House was a great success. JCI Dublin members Louise Walsh, Mark Kelly and Emma Hickey were actively involved in the organisation of the event. Michelle Daly, the JCI Dublin President and Stephen Murray from Galway were MCs for the night.
JCI Dublin members Laura Borlea, Kevin Guerin and Anthony Moran supported the organisers team and enjoyed the awards ceremony and inspiring speeches of the winners.
By Laura Borlea,
JCI Dublin Business Officer
  
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