Ardfert Youth Club from Kerry has been awarded the Online Community prize at the Irish Cancer Society X-HALE Youth Awards 2018. The group scooped the award for the most views on YouTube of its short film “Think Twice” which was showcased at the recent event in the Helix in Dublin. The winning film was watched almost 3000 times.
Fellow Kerry groups, Castleisland KDYS and Ógras, Tralee, also entered a short film to the competition.
Over 350 young people from 45 youth and community groups came together to showcase their anti-tobacco films and projects which they created to contribute towards establishing Ireland’s first smoke-free generation.
Donal Buggy, Head of Services at the Irish Cancer Society said: “Thankfully, smoking rates have declined but there’s still a lot more work to do. These findings are extremely worrying.
“We need to look at what Ardfert Youth Club, Castleisland KDYS, Ógras, Tralee and the rest of the #TheXGeneration are saying. The entries submitted show that young people truly understand the dangers of smoking and the power of the tobacco industry. They people have a vital role to play on the journey to Ireland becoming a tobacco-free country.”

I would like to congratulate Ardfert Youth Club on winning their award and for making a positive impact on their health and that of their peers. They have been recognised at this awards ceremony for exceptional effort in their project.”

2719 – 131 Pictured at the Irish Cancer Society’s X-HALE Youth Awards 2018 were, from left to right, Jack Bolger, Pairic Meaney, Keith O’Mahoney, Rory Murphy and Peter Hinchcliff from Ardfert Youth Club.