Young people put leadership skills to the test

Erin Tweedie of Downshire School won the Rotary Club of Carrickfergus heat of the competition before going on to take part in the next stage in Ballymena.

Aimed at the 15 to 18 age group, the Youth Leadership initiative also attracted entries from Carrickfergus Grammar School and Ulidia Integrated College.

Following a school-based selection procedure, the other two candidates chosen to compete in the local heats, held in the Clarion Hotel, were Philip McCullough, Carrickfergus Grammar and Anna Maguire, Ulidia Integrated College.

Carrickfergus competition organiser Rotarian Jim Dunlop and his panel of judges, which included Kelli Bagchus, Carrickfergus Enterprise and Rotarian Brenda Houston, were extremely impressed by the high calibre of those participating.

The competition prize sees 24 young people chosen from throughout Ireland to participate in a week-long personal development programme which includes seminars in Belfast and Dublin with visits to Stormont and the Dail. The party then travels to Strasbourg to represent Rotary at a full day debate in Euroscola in the European Parliament.

Rotarian Mary Sinnamon said they were “very proud” of Erin who was an “outstanding candidate”. The winners in Ballymena, she added, were from the host town, Ballycastle and Limavady.