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Three of the young people who told us about their experiences as the pandemic continued to upend their lives in 2021

Quaran-teen: Reflections on a challenging year

Over the past year, RTÉ News has shone a light on some of Ireland's most inspiring teenagers in our 'Quaran-teen' series of reports.

2021 in Review • 23 Dec 21

Jenna's song 'Smoke Storms' appears on the Think Earth album

Teenager pens competition-winning song from bedroom

19-year-old Jenna Coughlan is typical of many Irish teenagers, in that for much of the pandemic she was stuck at home in her bedroom.

Ireland • 03 Sep 21

Seán O'Mahony is the in-house baker for The Cottage Community Cafe

Teenager with autism on a roll with new baking brand

Munster • 02 Sep 21

Maria Ledwith standing outside her coffee trailer in Granard, Co Longford

Teen opens coffee trailer so she can be her own boss

Coffee trucks and trailers have become a feature of pandemic life, as more and more businesses adapted to the changed times.

Ireland • 01 Sep 21

Ruadhán Gormally recently won first prize at the Puppetry Film Contest

Teen puppeteer dreams of how to get to Sesame Street

Ruadhán Gormally, 16, from Co Galway, dreams of becoming a puppeteer on Sesame Street.

Ireland • 31 Aug 21

Saanvi Kaushik developed an app to help occupational therapists deliver care to their patients

Teen hopes her app helps children on OT waiting lists

This week we are shining a light on some of Ireland's most inspiring teenagers in our 'Quaran-teen' series of reports. They tell us about their experiences and stories of navigating life through the pandemic.

Ireland • 30 Aug 21

Sean Collins from Co Monaghan was named Young Carer of the Year in 2016, but his work did not stop there

Year takes toll on teen juggling study and caring role

It has been a challenging year for 17-year-old Sean Collins; not only is he studying for his Leaving Cert, but he is also helping to care for his mother and sister.

Coronavirus • 02 May 21

Lauren Ennis has over 68,000 followers on the social media platform TikTok

Teen uses TikTok to promote women in agriculture

For 17-year-old Lauren Ennis, empowering women in agriculture is her passion. The Co Offaly teen uses the social media platform TikTok to show what it is like working on her family farm.

Coronavirus • 01 May 21

Brandon O'Connor set up Dublin Homeless Awareness in 2018

Dublin teen runs team of volunteers who help homeless

When Brandon O'Connor was in transition year a teacher advised him to do a project about something that was personal to him; something he could be passionate about. He decided to set up a volunteer group to help the homeless because his mother had experienced homelessness and addiction.

Quaran-teen • 30 Apr 21

'I can't not dance' - Emer Lenihan has danced since she was four-years-old

Ballerina teen determined to raise the bar in pandemic

For 19-year-old ballerina Emer Lenihan, dance is part of her soul - the Claregalway native has trained in ballet since she was four-years-old.

Quaran-teen • 29 Apr 21

19-year-old Jack Clifford set up a Covid-19 response group in his home town of Kilmallock, Co Limerick

Teen's pandemic response group still strong a year on

For 19-year-old Jack Clifford, his community is everything. In March last year, Jack set up a voluntary Covid-19 response group in his home town of Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

Coronavirus • 28 Apr 21

'I realised there's nothing to stop me, I am limitless'

Once homeless teen helping children through pandemic

Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Zion wants to change the world, and she has started with her community.

Coronavirus • 27 Apr 21

Quaran-teen