Two young men who represent very different aspects of Limerick life, have been singled out as "outstanding” in an event organised by Junior Chamber International Ireland.

Cllr Kieran Walsh and Paul Gleeson were honoured at the annual Outstanding Young Persons of the Year National Awards, which were held recently in Tullamore.

The awards were presented by Junior Chamber Ireland’s president, Suzanne Corcoran.

While Corbally’s Cllr Kieran Walsh became the youngest elected member of a local authority when he secured a seat on Limerick City Council two years ago, Castletroy’s Paul Gleeson achieved worldwide recognition when, with his girlfriend, Tori Holmes, he rowed 3000 miles from the Canary Islands last November across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in Antigua, on February 23 of this year.

The marathon row was in aid of Concern.

Paul, who won the Junior Chamber International Ireland award in the category of Personal Improvement and/or Accomplishment, became only the third Irishman to ever achieve this feat.

Cllr Walsh was honoured in the category of Political Legal and/or Government Affairs for his involvement in local and international politics since he joined the Labour Youth, at the age of 14.

Chairman of the National Youth Parliament in 1999 and 2002, he served two terms on the National Youth Council of Ireland as National Youth Parliament representative.

When the dual mandate was introduced in 2003, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan resigned her seat on Limerick City Council and Cllr Walsh was co-opted on to the Council at the age of 21, and followed that up the next year by being elected as a member of City Council.

The two winners were nominated by Junior Chamber International’s Limerick president, Pat Murnane.