Gaisce council role for Feargal
A WEXFORD man has been nominated to the council of Gaisce – The President’s Award, an organisation which encourages people between the age of 15 and 25 to challenge themselves in four different areas of activity.
Feargal Hynes (25) from Wexford earned a Bronze Medal when he undertook the award while studying in St. Peter’s College and said that he enjoyed the programme immensely.
Students take part in challenges in four different areas: physical recreation, adventure journey, personal skill, and community involvement. The programme’s main ambassador is President Michael D. Higgins.
Feargal, the son of Alma and the late Jerome Hynes, is currently living in Dublin and works as Head of Operations and Development with Druid Theatre. When the opportunity to apply for a role on the council, he said it was his first opportunity to give something back to the organisation and he immediately applied.
‘The skill set Gaisce was looking for is similar to what I use in my role with Druid so I was offered a position by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone. I’m the youngest person on the council at the moment and I imagine I’m probably one of the youngest people ever accepted onto it.’
The role will involve attending awards ceremonies, regular meetings and working on various subcommittees, with the aim being to roll the programme out to younger students and also to people in disadvantaged areas. Feargal pointed out that the first Gaisce awardees in direct provision would receive awards in the coming weeks and it was hoped that the programme could be rolled out in prisons too.
He said: ‘Gaisce has everything and the more accessible it is, the better. If it’s rolled out to younger students it will instil the idea of giving back to the community. I believe in people having a well rounded education and Gaisce dips into various skills that will serve people well in the future.’