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Northern Ireland naturalist and writer Dara McAnulty has spoken of his pride as the youngest person to feature on the New Year Honours list.

The 18-year-old, who is autistic, receives a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his environmental work and his work with people with autism.

He described it as " validation" that young people can " make a difference".

He is among more than 80 people in Northern Ireland who are being honoured as part of the new year list.

Football legend Pat Jennings and BBC Radio Ulster broadcaster John Bennett are two of the best-known names on the Northern Ireland roll of honour.

Also receiving recognition are County Antrim street cleaner Stephen Burns and Katrina McDonnell, who runs the Homeless Period charity, providing sanitary products to women in need.

Dara McAnulty's BEM comes after several years of environmental activism as well as prizes for his writing about the natural world.

He was 16 when for his book Diary of a Young Naturalist.

Speaking to BBC News NI, he said his honour was " absolutely incredible, not only for me but for young people in general".

" It gives them validation that they can speak their mind and make a difference in this world, " said the teenager from Annalong in County Down.

" I've had a love of the natural world from a very, very young age.

" I discovered so much beauty in nature and the landscape - it was seeing the destruction of it that drove me to protect it. "

Honours for veterans of football and broadcasting

Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pat Jennings is made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his football and charity work.

In his illustrious career he played for Tottenham and Arsenal, won 119 international caps and played in two World Cups.

In the years since his retirement he has been involved in cross-community charity projects and in grassroots football with the Irish Football Association (IFA).

" I've been very lucky with getting my MBE on the Queen's Birthday Honours list way back in 1976, " the 77-year-old told BBC News NI.

" Especially when you get to my age you appreciate it more. "

BBC Radio Ulster broadcaster John Bennett, who has presented what is now the Sunday Club for 43 years, becomes Member of the British Empire (MBE).

A footballer and a folk singer in his youth, he has since worked on a variety of TV and radio programmes, covering sport, current affairs and music.

He told BBC News NI that his honour came " completely out of the blue".

" I'm delighted, full of thanks and a bit humbled as well, " he said.

Recognition for sporting women

Former Northern Ireland international footballer Gail Redmond will be made a MBE for services to her sport.

The 43-year-old from Carrickfergus in County Antrim works as women's development manager with the IFA, ensuing that young girls and women have the chance to excel at the game.

" I feel so humbled - to tell you the truth I just see it as doing my job, " she told BBC Sport NI.

" You look at the list on 1 January every year and see who is on it and now my name will be there. "

International bowler Sandra Bailie said she was " still struggling to believe" that she had been made a MBE.

The 62-year-old, from Comber in County Down, holds the record for the most Irish indoor titles (29) and has won British titles in triples and pairs competitions.

She has also excelled in outdoor bowls, with seven Irish titles.

" I like to win, I am very competitive, but I am also one of the best losers you will ever come across, " she said.

" I have tried to give something back to the game too. "

Day at the Palace for 'working man'

Street cleaner Stephen Burns, 56, from Portglenone has kept his village clean for two decades - he becomes a MBE.

The Mid and East Antrim Council worker said he thought his honour was a wind-up when he was told about it.

" I don't know anything about how these things work - I just go and do my work every day, " he said.

" I would always try to go the extra mile - I always want to do a good day's work.

" It is nice that the working man is recognised.

" I'm not sure I'll be able to bring my brush with me [to Buckingham Palace]. "

The honours system

Commonly awarded ranks:

Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people; recipients wear the initials CH after their nameKnight or DameCBE - Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOBE - Officer of the Order of the British EmpireMBE - Member of the Order of the British EmpireBEM - British Empire Medal

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County Tyrone man Peter Dolan, whose, is to receive a BEM.

The Omagh father has campaigned for tougher sentences for those convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

" It's bittersweet because if our son Enda wasn't killed this wouldn't be happening, " he said.

" But you have to take what comes to you and make the best of it as much as you can and that's what I've done. "

Former Ulster Farmers' Union president Victor Chestnutt, 62, from Bushmills in County Antrim, is appointed an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to agriculture.

He described himself as an " ordinary farmer" and said he " spoke my mind" during his time leading the union.

" I suppose I thought that because I was known to be so outspoken I would never be put forward for something like this, " he said.

" I take this royal honour on behalf of all farmers in Northern Ireland. "

Full list of Northern Ireland recipients of New Year Honours

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Dr Graham Harold Gudgin, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire - for services to economic development in Northern Ireland

Maria Teresa Jennings, Castlewellan, County Down, director, regulatory compliance, people and Northern Ireland, Food Standards Agency - for services to public health

Patrick Anthony Jennings OBE, Brickendon, Hertfordshire - for services to association football and to charity in Northern Ireland

Samuel David Pollock OBE, Antrim, County Antrim - for public service in Northern Ireland

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Dr John Edmund Stannard, Belfast, legal academic, Queen's University Belfast - for services to legal education

Nicola Louise Bailey, London - for services to healthcare in Northern Ireland

Brian Baird, Newtownards, County Down, lately board member of Invest NI - for services to economic development in Northern Ireland

Michael Thomas Bell, Holywood, County Down, executive director, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association Ltd - for services to the food and drink industry and to the economy in Northern Ireland

Joseph Patrick Breen, Ballycastle, County Antrim, lately senior scientific officer, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - for services to marine science and to environmental protection

Prof Francis Casey, Carryduff, County Down, consultant paediatric cardiologist - for services to healthcare in Northern Ireland

Victor James Boyd Chestnutt, Bushmills, County Antrim, lately president, Ulster Farmers' Union - for services to agriculture

Dr Jennifer Elliott, Londonderry - for services to the arts in Northern Ireland

Steven McCourt, Larne, County Antrim, head of reducing reoffending, resettlement and rehabilitation, Department of Justice - for public service

John Gordon Miligan, Newtownards, County Down - for services to business and human resource management in Northern Ireland

Trevor Dale Robinson, Portadown, County Armagh, lately principal, Lurgan College, County Armagh - for services to education

Deborah Elizabeth Watters, Belfast, co-director, Northern Ireland Alternative - for public service

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Dr Roy Robert Anderson, Belfast - for services to science and nature

Sandra Hazel Bailie, County Down - for services to bowls

William John Gaston Bennett, Belfast - for services to radio and television broadcasting in Northern Ireland

Sandra Best, Lisburn, County Down, volunteer and trustee, Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation - for voluntary service

Stephen John Bleakley, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone - for services to libraries and to the community in Fermanagh, Omagh and Fivemiletown

Kenneth Sydney Brundle, Killinchy, County Down - for services to business, to economic development and to the charitable sector in Northern Ireland

George Crawford Bell, Carryduff, County Down - for services to the music industry in Northern Ireland

Dr Anne Campbell, Belfast, reader, Queen's University Belfast - for services to drug policy and practice

Susan Shirley Cunningham, Belfast, lately president, North of Ireland Veterinary Association - for services to the veterinary profession in Northern Ireland

Jacqueline Dixon, Ballyrobert, County Antrim, chief executive, Antrim and Newtownabbey Council - for services to local government and to the community in Northern Ireland

Eileen Lilian Mary Donnelly, Dungannon, County Tyrone, board of governors, the Integrated College, Dungannon - for services to education in Northern Ireland

Lorraine Foster, Lisburn, County Antrim - for services to people with learning disabilities in Lisburn

Brian Jozef Grzymek, Holywood, County Down, lately deputy director, Department of Justice - for public and voluntary service in Northern Ireland

Kathleen Margaret Joy Guthrie, Hillsborough, County Down - for services to the Reserve Forces and to the veteran community in Northern Ireland

The Reverend Matthew Henry Hagan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, chaplain, Southern Area Hospice and Rector of Tynan, Aghavilly and Middletown parishes, County Armagh - for services to hospice healthcare and to the community in Northern Ireland

Professor Anne Heaslett, Limavady, County Londonderry, lately principal, Stranmillis University College - for services to education

Peter Desmond Jack, Limavady, County Londonderry - for services to endurance sport and charity in Northern Ireland

Rabbi David Michael Kale, Belfast, faith leader, Belfast Synagogue - for services to the Jewish community in Northern Ireland

Samuel James Kee, Bready, County Tyrone, community development worker - for services to the community in County Londonderry

Gavin Joseph Killeen DL Londonderry, managing director, Nuprint Technologies Ltd - for services to further education in Northern Ireland

Robert Leckey, County Armagh - for services to education in County Down

Dr Alison Florence Livingstone, Randalstown, County Antrim, paediatrician, Northern Health and Social Care Trust - for services to safeguarding children in Northern Ireland

Peter Anthony McBride, Omagh, County Tyrone - for services to the economy and to the community in County Tyrone

Katrina McDonnell, Belfast, founder, Homeless Period Belfast - for services to women's health

Patrick Joseph McGurn, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh - for services to the community in County Fermanagh and Tyrone

Prof Sonja Jayne McIlfatrick, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, dean of the Ulster Doctoral College and professor of nursing and palliative care, Ulster University - for services to higher education and public health

William Oliver, Castlerock, County Londonderry - for services to education, to business and to charities in County Londonderry

Gail Redmond, Carrickfergus, County Antrim - for services to association football in Northern Ireland

Andrew Peter Saunders, Dromore, County Down, lately chair, Southern Regional College, County Armagh and County Down - for services to the further education sector in Northern Ireland

Prof Michael Gordon Scott, Ballymena, County Antrim, director, Medicines Optimisation Innovation Centre - for services to pharmacy in Northern Ireland

John Stewart, Katesbridge, County Down, district chairman, Royal British Legion Northern Ireland - for services to veterans

Prof Ursula Margaret Waite, County Armagh - for services to the agri-food industry and to the economy in Northern Ireland

Joseph Norman Wilson, Cookstown, County Tyrone - for services to business and to the community in Northern Ireland

Samuel Godfrey Young, Omagh, County Tyrone - for services to social work and to education

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Stephen Burns, Ballymena, County Antrim, road sweeper, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - for services to the community in Portglenone

Christopher Robert David Cuddy, Dungannon, County Tyrone - for voluntary service to the community in Northern Ireland

Peter Anthony Dolan, Omagh, County Tyrone, founder, Enda Dolan Foundation - for services to justice and to young people in Northern Ireland

Jahswill Rohi Alexander Emmanuel, Belfast, founder, Multi-Ethnic Sports and Cultures Northern Ireland - for services to the community in Northern Ireland

Julie Gough, Bangor, County Down - for services to midwifery in Northern Ireland

Lynn Green, Seaforde, County Down - for services to emergency nursing in Northern Ireland

Raye Elizabeth Greenaway, Portadown, County Armagh - for services to young people in Northern Ireland through the Boys' Brigade

Derek Richard Greenaway, Portadown, County Armagh - for services to young people in Northern Ireland through the Boys' Brigade

William John Hutchinson, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, volunteer driver, Belfast City Hospital - for services to Healthcare in Northern Ireland

Catherine Georgina Johnston - for services to Save The Children and to the community in Belfast

William Iain Kennedy, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, director, Aisling Counselling Centre, and coach, Enniskillen Royal Boat Club - for voluntary service to the community in County Fermanagh

Dara Seamus McAnulty, Annalong, County Down - for services to the environment and to people with autism spectrum disorder

Winifred McConnell, Crumlin, County Antrim, registrar, Belfast City Council - for services to local overnmentg

Patrick Joseph McTeague, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, food technology technician, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - for public and voluntary service

James McVicar Morrison, Ballymena, County Antrim - for services to Agriculture in Northern Ireland

Anthony Oliver Morrison, Ballymoney, County Antrim - for voluntary services to the community in Northern Ireland

Michelle Veronica Mullan, Antrim, County Antrim. clerical officer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast - for voluntary and charitable service to the community in County Antrim

Siobhain Murphy, Antrim, County Antrim, co-founder, A Safe Space To Be Me - for services to the community in County Antrim

James Reed, Belfast, head of crime scene investigation, Police Service of Northern Ireland - for services to policing in Northern Ireland

Iris Smyth, Ballymena, County Antrim, lately senior telephonist, Northern Health and Social Care Trust - for services to healthcare in Northern Ireland

Carolyn Tailford, Lisburn, County Antrim - co-founder, A Safe Space To Be Me - for services to the community in County Antrim

Jonathan Gordon Topping, Belfast, general manager, Clayton Hotel, Belfast - for services to the Covid-19 response

Helena Mary White, Comber, County Down, county president, Girlguiding North Down - for services to young people in Northern Ireland

Alison June Wolfe, Larne, County Antrim, senior personal secretary, Labour Relations Agency - for services to employment relations in Northern Ireland

King's Police Medal (KPM)

John Bannon, constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lindsay Leanne Fisher, detective superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland

Alan Todd, assistant chief constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland

Source of news: bbc.com