Date: Thursday, 19 April 2018
Efrem Gidey pictured in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Swords.
The remarkable achievements of a Tyrrelstown student were recognised by members of Fingal County Council at a special ceremony held recently in the Council Chamber at County Hall, Swords.
Efrem Gidey, a fifth year student at Le Chéile Secondary School recently won the All-Ireland Senior Schools Cross-County title in Waterford, just months after arriving in Ireland from Eritrea having spent several years in a refugee camp in Calais.
Councillors agreed at the March meeting of the County Council to recognise his achievement and, after the April meeting, there was a special ceremony where Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, made a special presentation and paid tribute to Efrem along with Cllr Eugene Coppinger, Cllr Matthew Waine, Cllr Paul Donnelly, Cllr Anne Devitt and Cllr Mags Murray.
The councillors recalled Efrem’s journey from Eritrea to Ireland and praised his courage and dedication before describing him as a great role model for young people within the community.
They added that his achievement highlighted the role that sport can play in integrating communities.
The Principal of Le Cheile, Dr Aine Moran, said the school was proud of Efrem and his friends who had come to Ireland last year and enrolled in the school.
“We are tremendously proud of his sporting achievements but also his courage and tenacity,” she added.
“His friends also deserve to be part of this because they are his family now.”