Sergeant Martin Long, Community Policing Mullingar, Garda Eugene Boland, JLO Athlone CE, Barry Kehoe, Westmeath CoCo, Superintendent Blaithín Moran, Garda Martina Walsh Community Policing Mullingar, Trainee Garda Tara Dalton, Garda Stacey Looby, Athlone Community Policing, Cllr Aoife Davitt, Cathaoirleach Westmeath CoCo, Jackie Finney, Westmeath CoCo, Annette Barr-Jordan, Westmeath CoCo, Garda Brendan Minnock, JLO Mullingar District CE.

Former winner helps launch Garda Youth Awards

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Síofra Grant

The Atrium at Áras an Chontae was dotted with neon and reflective uniforms as the local Community Policing Unit and staff from Westmeath County Council launched the 2026 Garda Youth Awards.

Tara Dalton stood with her colleagues, in a uniform slightly different from the others as she is currently in training, but she stood out for another reason: she’s a former Garda Youth Award recipient.

“It was an honour at the time, it was completely unexpected,” recalled Tara.

She received her award in 2021 while she was in TY following a remote talent show held by her and her classmates during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It was such a nice recognition to get.

“Then, at the ceremony, I met one of the community garda here, Camilla Corbett, and I told her that I really wanted to join the guards when I left school. Throughout school, I kept in contact with her and when I was applying to be a garda I was contacting her and letting her know the stages I was going through.

“Then she told me the youth awards were this year and asked if I would like to be involved. I said yes, it’s a really nice initiative for young people because there’s a lot of young people doing amazing work in their communities.”

Tara is coming to the end of the first stage of her garda training. “I’ll be getting my station soon and I’ll be going out on placement for three months next week. I love the college, I’m going to miss it for these few months.

“But I’m sure it’s the start of a new adventure.”

Superintendent Bláithín Moran was also in attendance and encouraged nominations for the awards. “We’re launching it today so people can fill out a form either online or in person, it will be available in various locations, including the library.

“The idea is that members of the public can fill out a form that recognises the great work that is done by young people, aged between 13 and 21.

“We’ve had great success over the last number of years where winners from the Westmeath division have also won the national competition.”

The superintendent gestured toward Tara saying: “We’re delighted to have her here because she’s actually a student guard now in Templemore, she won her award in 21.”

Supt Moran said there are four award categories: Individual Award and Group Award (both recognising those making a positive contribution to their community and making it a better place to live): and the Special Achievement Award, for those who have overcome difficult circumstances, defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition.

Finally, the Community Safety Award is presented to those who have made their community a safer place to live through crime prevention or a safety initiative/innovation.

Director of services for Westmeath County Council, Jackie Finnerty, said: “The Garda Youth Awards are a great initiative. We work closely with the gardaí across a number of areas, with Comhairle na nÓg, and now the Community Safety Partnerships have been established across the country.

“The youth awards are an opportunity to highlight the fantastic young people do in their communities and also linking in with the gardaí as well.”

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