Published in SIN News, 15st October 2012

The final regional workshop of President Higgins’ ‘Being Young and Irish’ initiative took place in the Bailey Allen Hall on Saturday, 29 September. Almost one hundred young people, including approximately twenty NUI Galway students, attended the workshop. President Higgins opened the day’s proceedings with a speech highlighting his belief that young Irish people are the key to helping resolve our social, political, economic and cultural issues. A series of concentrated workshops followed, in which the collection of young people present reflected on the changes they wish to see in Irish society, and how they would bring those changes about.

The ‘Being Young and Irish’ programme consists of a consultation period that ran from 25 May to 29 September, during which the President invited young people aged 17-26 to contribute practical ideas and make suggestions for the improvement of Ireland. The initiative was keen to engage with young people through their platform of choice, social media. Submissions could be made online through English or Irish, and multimedia formats such as audio and video were encouraged. Four regional workshops in Dublin, Monaghan, Cork and Galway were hosted during September as part of the initiative. The workshops explored the ideas of young people on three main questions: their vision for Ireland, what young people must do to help achieve that vision, and what else needs to happen to make it possible.

In his inauguration speech last November, President Higgins announced his intention to host a different seminar for each year of his Presidency which would “reflect and explore themes that went beyond immediate legislative demands but which were important to the shared life of the Irish people”. In his opening remarks at the Galway workshop here in NUI Galway, the President outlined how important it was for him to give young people the opportunity to be the forerunners of change in ‘Being Young and Irish’, his first seminar:

“There is a valuable work to be done by all those participating today. Meaningful, sustainable change does not come easily and requires demanding, honest and rigorous reflection. I have a real belief in the commitment of you young people to do that work.”

“You are the leaders of today’s consultation, working together and with others throughout the initiative to build a vision of the Irishness best for all of us in different generations, for the future.”onest and rigorous reflection. I have a real belief in the commitment of you young people to do that work.”

“You have the opportunity today to articulate the kind of society you seek to live in with others, grow older in, and in the future hand on to the other generations.”

“While I read and hear of how marginalised and often silenced many young people have been, I have been more impressed at how deeply young people are reflecting on these issues, how deep and rich the contributions to date have been.”

“Young people are ready to think, speak and act, in emancipatory terms.”

Issues that came to the forefront of the Galway workshop included the revival and promotion of the Irish culture and language, pro-activity and civic responsibility, the need to embrace individuality as part of a supportive community, and the improved facilitation and awareness of mental health. Reform of the education system, eradication of church influence and political accountability were also among the popular matters raised on the day.

The outputs of all four regional workshops and the multimedia consultation will be presented as part of the National Seminar at Áras an Uachtaráin in November. A final report of the consultation will be published and delivered to the relevant authorities and agencies.

Vice-President/Education Officer of NUI Galway Student Union, Conor Stitt was among the young people who attended the workshop. He had great praise for the programme:

“The Being Young and Irish workshop was a great initiative taken by President Higgins. Many young people feel disenfranchised from

politics and because of that, feel that they cannot change the norms. President Higgins is not only telling young people they can bring about the change they want to see to but challenges us to be part of that change. The workshops had some great ideas and many young people wanting a huge level of change. I hope and will work for young people to take ownership of that change.”

The final regional workshop of President Higgins’ ‘Being Young and Irish’ initiative took place in the Bailey Allen Hall on Saturday, 29 September. Almost one hundred young people, including approximately twenty NUI Galway students, attended the workshop. President Higgins opened the day’s proceedings with a speech highlighting his belief that young Irish people are the key to helping resolve our social, political, economic and cultural issues. A series of concentrated workshops followed, in which the collection of young people present reflected on the changes they wish to see in Irish society, and how they would bring those changes about.