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15th Nov 2023

Saoirse Ruane becomes youngest winner of Galway People of the Year Award

Valerie Reid

The 11-year-old Late Late Show star has a new title

Saoirse Ruane, who many remember from her touching appearance on The Late Late Toy Show, has become the youngest person to ever win a ‘Galway People of the Year Award’ for her courage and bravery throughout her ongoing cancer battle.

“I find it’s important to give back to charities because of all the people that fundraised for me, and I feel like it’s a way of saying thanks to people who have helped me,” Saoirse said in her acceptance speech.

To mark her incredible achievement, her mother Roseanna, made an emotional post on their shared Instagram account.

“For many years now our beautiful girl Saoirse has been recognised near and far for her fundraising and giving back to charities in order to help others,” she wrote.


“But it’s very very special when your community and county recognises you and awards you a People of the Year Award.

“Saoirse is also the youngest person to ever receive this award in Galway. This is tremendous recognition for all who have received one, whether it be last night, previous years or in the future.

“You are the ones who have shown true courage and strength in the face of adversity.

“We attended the ceremony at the Galway Bay Hotel last night with 14 other wonderful deserving recipients and the people who support them.

“It certainly was a room filled with love, awe, inspiration, modesty, generosity and celebration.”

Credit: Instagram

Roseanna added: “Saoirse’s biggest trait is her kind soul and in her short 11 years she has made such a huge impact using this fruit of life through her illness and we couldn’t be more proud.”

Saoirse, who previously had a leg amputation, has continued to inspire the nation as she undergoes treatment for a recurrent tumour that was diagnosed in April.

 

Header image via RTÉ

This article originally appeared on herfamily.ie

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