Strasbourg trip for Sara

Sara Patterson, who won the local heats of the Rotary Youth Leadership competition, represented the Rotary Club of Carrickfergus when she went forward to compete in the area finals in Ballymena.

From this group of competitors, three were chosen to join 23 others successful participants from area finals throughout the whole of Ireland with their prize being an opportunity to take part in leadership seminars, visit Stormont and the Dail, meet a cross-section of MLAs and TDs and travel to Strasbourg to represent Ireland in Euroschola (the European Youth Parliament).

Carrickfergus Rotary president Billy Luney expressed the club’s delight and pride at Sara’s success. He noted her performance and demeanour throughout the process were a credit to herself, her family and her school.

He added: “Previous participants have found the Youth Leadership competition a highly valuable life experience and Sara has the qualities to make the most of the opportunities it offers to build her leadership skills and make a whole network of new friends.”