Winner was in labour ward when National Hero Award announced

Two-day ETBI conference held in Cavan.

Winner of the National ETB Hero Award John Lavin finally received his award in person in Cavan this week.

John had been unable to accept the award originally announced by RTE Newsreader Ray Kennedy at the ETB Excellence Awards in Croke Park recently because he was with his wife Mairead in the labour ward of Mayo University Hospital Castlebar, where she gave birth to their daughter Fiadh.

The new arrival accompanied Youthreach Tutor John Lavin as he was presented with the Hero Award by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) this week at the National Conference of Youthreach Coordinators in Farnham Estate.

John, a Tutor at Ballinrobe Youthreach, Mayo Sligo & Leitrim ETB, was awarded the prize in recognition of his outstanding work and courage which included filling a 40-foot container truck with humanitarian aid and driving it himself across Europe and into Ukraine in order to deliver the aid to shelters there.

Presenting the Award, Paddy Lavelle General Secretary of ETBI, stated: “John has made an exceptional contribution to his ETB community and beyond, and embodies our core values of excellence, care, respect, community, and equality. We’re delighted to present him with his award and to meet baby Fiadh. Youthreach staff like John make such a difference in the lives of young people across our 16 Education and Training Boards and the communities they serve.”

The two-day conference, held in Cavan, was attended by Youthreach Coordinators from all 16 Education & Training Boards and was themed “Innovation in Education and Responding to At-Risk Students”.

The conference keynote address was made by Cavan-born entrepreneur and writer Sean Gallagher.