Maynooth Student earns top President's Award

Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - 00:00

Bronnadh Gradam an Uachtaráin ag an leibhéal is airde ar mhac léinn de chuid Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ag searmanas i gCaisleán Bhaile Átha Cliath inniu (4 Feabhra 2015).

Bhronn Uachtarán na hÉireann, Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn, Gradam Óir ar Michelle Murphy, mac léinn Diagachta agus Béarla, atá ina dara bhliain den chúrsa céime.

Is as an Inbhear Mór i gCo. Chill Mhantáin í Michelle ó dhúchas agus d’éirigh léi an gradam a bhaint amach ó thosaigh sí ag freastal ar Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Ba é Shay Claffey, duine de na séiplínigh in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, a Ceannaire Gradaim le linn an phróisis.  

Is é Gradam an Uachtaráin an Gradam Náisiúnta Dúshláin a bhronnann an tUachtarán ar dhaoine óga atá idir 15 agus 25 bliain d’aois.

Éacht le cur ar an CV

Agus í ag labhairt roimh an ócáid, dúirt Michelle go raibh sí ar bís toisc go bhfuil cumann Gaisce nua bhunaithe in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad.

“Tá an cumann nua thar cionn agus tá spéis ag go leor daoine ann. Deis iontach atá sa ghradam spriocanna pearsanta a bhaint amach, is féidir é a chur ar do CV agus tá neart cairde nua déanta agam mar thoradh ar pháirt a ghlacadh sa ghradam,” arsa Michelle.

Spriocanna pearsanta

Mar chuid den phróiseas, thug Michelle faoi shiúlóid 100km ar fad trí Shléibhte Chill Mhantáin.

Is clár neamhiomaíoch é Gaisce. Baineann an duine óg a spriocanna pearsanta amach thar tréimhse ama, le tacaíocht agus le treoir ó Cheannaire Gradaim an Uachtaráin (PAL).

Baineann na dúshláin leis na réimsí seo a leanas: rannpháirtíocht an phobail, scil phearsanta a fhorbairt, áineas fisiciúil agus aistear eachtraíochta.

Tá trí ghradam ann - Cré-umha, Airgead agus Ór. Tá beirt cheannairí an Ghradaim ar an gcampas, mac léinn lánfhásta, Rhonda McGovern, agus duine de shéiplínigh na hOllscoile, Shay Claffey.

Má tá spéis agat a bheith i do bhall de chumann Gaisce Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, tabhair cuairt ar a suíomh idirlín.

English

A Maynooth University student today (4 February, 2015) received the highest level President’s Award at a ceremony in Dublin Castle.

Michelle Murphy, a second year undergraduate student in Theology and English, was presented with the Gaisce President’s Gold Award by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

Michelle, from Arklow in Co Wicklow completed her Gaisce Gold Award since coming to Maynooth where her President Award Leader (PAL) was Shay Claffey, one of the chaplains at Maynooth University.
Gaisce – the President’s Award (Gaisce is an old Irish word meaning ‘a great achievement’) - is a challenge from the President of Ireland to young people aged 15 to 25.

Great for the CV

Speaking prior to the award ceremony Michelle said she was excited that there is a new Gaisce society at Maynooth University.

“The new society is great and the interest has been really strong. It’s great for achieving your personal goals, it’s good for you CV and I have made load of friends through Gaisce,” Michelle said.

Personal goals

As one part of the process Michelle went on a 100km hike through the Wicklow Mountains.

The award is a non-competitive programme in which a young person sets out to achieve personal goals over a period of time, with the support and guidance throughout of a President’s Award Leader (PAL). There are two PALs on campus, a Maynooth University Mature student, Rhonda McGovern, and one of the University Chaplains, Shay Claffey. 
The challenges are in areas that include community involvement, personal skill development, physical recreation and an adventure journey.

There are three awards – Bronze, Silver and Gold. 

If you are interested in joining Maynooth University Gaisce society visit their website here.

Caption: ​Maynooth University Claplain Shay Claffey, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and Michelle Murphy.