A GARDA’S first duty is to be a guardian of the peace. But along with protecting and serving, they also want to reward the terrific contribution young people make to society.
Two outstanding Limerick young people, Liam Costelloe and Aishling Sexton, were among 24 honoured at the annual Garda Youth Awards.
One week before Liam Costelloe was due to begin secondary school, his life changed forever when his doctor told him that a brain tumour had been found pressing onto his optic nerve.
Just days later, Liam was undergoing emergency surgery to remove the tumour.
Following his operation, Liam and his family were thinking that the worst was behind them, when he began to suffer from debilitating headaches and he had a seizure. He was diagnosed with meningitis and later that evening he developed swelling in his brain and paralysis to his left side, resulting in an emergency surgery.
The young Limerick boy was admitted to intensive care where he spent four days on life support and required two further operations that week to stabilise his condition.
Once he was in the clear, Liam began rehabilitation to slowly learn how to walk again. Despite these hardships, he was determined to return to school after his October midterm break, and see his friends again in person.
“We are thrilled to say that Liam has now returned to full-time attendance at Coláiste Chiarán in Croom and has re-joined his school’s hurling team, ” an awards spokesperson said.
“Liam’s perseverance has proven that recovery is not just a physical process, but a mental one too and to watch his continued progress is motivation for us all”.
When Aishling Sexton’s mother, Mary, developed a serious lung condition and her health deteriorated, the young Limerick daughter began devoting herself to providing the care her mother needed.
Aishling stepped up and was there throughout the many months that Mary recovered in ICU and while learning to walk and talk again.
And Aishling’s hard work didn’t just stop at providing care and unconditional support.
Aishling knew that without proper funding, the increasing medical expenses would be impossible for her family to cover.
Knowing what she needed to do, she began a grassroots campaign to fundraise the money needed to cover essential bills and in the hope of being able to adapt the family home to aid her mam’s health.
While being there for her mother, Aishling also raised over €30,000 through walks and tractor runs and studied for her Leaving Certificate.
The award award is not the first for Aishling, having been the recipient of the Limerick Family Carer of the Year in 2023. “But nothing speaks more to her character than the love and care she continues to show to all those close to her,” the Garda awards spokesman said.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Assistant Commissioner for Road Safety and Community Engagement Paula Hilman said: “Our Garda National Youth Awards are about recognising the incredible work done by young people in communities all over Ireland for the sake of others.”
“They often don’t get enough credit for the variety of challenges they face in today’s society and particularly for how they responded to the difficulties they encounter, but they support one another and help their communities with great enthusiasm.
“Each one of this year’s recipients demonstrate all that is wonderful about our young people, and as Gardaí we are so proud of their hard work.”
