ETB Excellence Awards 2023
ETB Week celebrations culminated in the ETB Excellence Awards, which took place in Croke Park on 2nd March. The Excellence Awards recognised individuals, initiatives and groups in ETBs across the country, that have had a significant impact on their community, and are going above and beyond to embody the ETB ethos.
Over the past month, ETBs across the country were invited to submit entries to a number of categories, including ‘ETB Hero’, ‘Excellence in Education Award’, and ‘Excellence Award for Equality’, amongst others.
Roscommon Community College’s LGBTQI+ Allies group received the runner-up prize for Equality category.
GRETB also won the award for their Procurement Office Green Innovation initiative.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Croke Park which also marked ‘ETB Day’. Hosted by RTÉ newsreader and former ETB student, Ray Kennedy, the event was attended by representatives from all 16 ETBs across the country.
Some of the awards presented at the ceremony included the ETB Excellence in Education Award, the ETB Excellence Award for Equality, the ETB Excellence in Further Education and Training Award, and the ETB Excellence in Youth Services Award, amongst others.
Congratulating the awardees, Paddy Lavelle, Chief Executive of ETBI said: “It gives me great pride to congratulate all the winners, and indeed runners-up on their success in the inaugural ETB Excellence Awards. We received over 500 entries from ETBs across the country to the Awards detailing the great people and initiatives that are ongoing in all corners of Ireland.
“The standard across all categories was extremely competitive, meaning we had a very difficult job in narrowing the entries down and selecting our winners. The work of all ETBs – not those just officially recognised at the awards – deserves to be commended. Their commitment and passion for education, for learning and for their communities play a vital role in ensuring that there are broad and varied options for people to engage with education and training across the country, no matter what stage of their learning journey they are at.
“This year is a milestone year for ETBs as we celebrate 10 years since their formation in Ireland. Over the past decade, ETBs have delivered learning and education opportunities for everyone – including primary and post primary schools, further education and training and youth services. ETBs have revolutionised Ireland’s education system, and I hope that we can continue to deliver innovative, diverse and flexible learning pathways over the next ten years, and beyond.”
The official ETB Heroes video was also premiered at the awards ceremony, which features five ETB heroes – including famous faces and former ETB students Ray Kennedy, Tolü Makay and Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill – matched with five current ETB learners, exploring what their ETB means to them and the impact it has on their life.
