The President’s Award is Ireland’s very own National Challenge Award, the country’s most prestigious and respected individual award programme, and a challenge from the President of Ireland, to you… the nation’s future.
Download the An Gaisce Applicant List 2009-2010
What’s it all about?
Gaisce – the President’s Award works on the basis of a personal challenge set by you. You will set the challenge and agree it with a President’s Award leader (Mr. Dooley). You won’t be competing with other participants, as each challenge is completely individual… so the only person you’ll compete with is yourself.
How does it work?
There are three different types of award that you can earn – bronze, silver and gold.
Minimum Age Minimum Time
Direct Entry Merit System for
previous Award holders
Bronze 15 years 26 weeks
Silver 16 years 52 weeks 26 weeks for Bronze Award holder
Gold 17 years 78 weeks 52 weeks for Bronze Award holder
How to earn an award?
There are 4 different challenge areas. To earn an award, you will need to participate in each of the 4 challenge areas. You might decide to build on an activity you’ve tried in the past. Each participant must participate in at least one new activity to earn an award.
Our 4 challenge areas are:
- 1. Community Involvement
2. Personal Skill
3. Physical Recreation
4. Adventure Journey
A Residential Project is required for the Gold Award
Who can compete for the President’s Award?
The Award programme is open to all young people between the ages of 15 and 25. Anyone can take part as long as you’re self-motivated and up to the challenge.
What did we do in CBC this year?
Sept.2009: Applications from over 40 students wishing to pursue the challenge came in this year.
Dec. 2009: CBC students Robert Byrden, Austin Conlon, and Daniel Creegan collected their Silver Awards at Trinity College at the annual Leinster presentation of Silver Awards. The guest speaker, no stranger to taking on challenges was Ian Mc Keever – an inspirational representative for An Gaisce.
March 2010: First Adventure hike took place – weather was wet, cold, wintry snow added further threat to the experience and challenge, but alternative routes were decided upon to meet requirements of An Gaisce and upon arrival in Roundwood, it was a relief for many students and parents that their child had survived the route.
April 2010: Sean O’ Brien (2008) receive his Gold Award as part of the 25 year celebrations of An Gaisce from the President in Dublin Castle – Seán had worked consistently, even when some of the challenges proved problematic since he left CBC in 2008.
April 2010: Hike 2: was a stark contrast in terms of weather to the first – clear blue skies, some sun and beautiful scenery/ great hiking conditions for the students involved.
May 2010: TY Presentation evening, 24 students were presented with their Bronze awards.
September 2010: 20 Bronze applicants and 15 silver applicants come on board for Gaisce – The President’s Award 2010/2011
December 2010: 17 silver awardees will be presented with their awards in Trinity College, Dublin at the Leinster Gasice Award Celebrations.
