‘Every young person has the potential to lead’: Eleven Leitrim young people attend Foróige conference
Eleven young people from Leitrim joined more than 300 delegates from Ireland and the United States at Foróige’s flagship Leadership for Life Youth Conference at Maynooth University, taking part in a five-day programme focused on leadership, teamwork, communication and personal development
Eleven young people from Leitrim were among more than 300 delegates from Ireland and the United States who recently took part in Foróige’s Leadership for Life Youth Conference at Maynooth University.
The Leitrim participants were Eva Maguire, Tara McGurren, Ceili Mollohan, Sarah McWeeney, Tom Leonard, Emma Lee, Millie Kennington, Finn Devlin Keogh, Fiadh Devlin Keogh, Caitlin Flanagan and Katie May Greenan.
The five-day residential programme gave participants the opportunity to strengthen leadership, teamwork and communication skills while learning from inspiring speakers and young people from across Ireland and overseas. Delegates took part in interactive workshops and activities designed to encourage confidence, resilience and personal development.
The conference is the flagship event of Foróige’s Leadership for Life Programme, which has been empowering young people for more than 15 years. Throughout the week, delegates will strengthen essential life skills including communication, teamwork, decision-making, resilience, critical thinking and problem-solving, while learning that leadership is not about titles, it’s about having the courage to make a difference.
Alongside practical leadership activities, delegates are exploring the issues that matter most to young people today. Honest conversations around mental health, equality, climate action, technology and belonging are giving participants the opportunity to share experiences, challenge perspectives and learn from one another in a supportive environment where every voice is valued.
The conference also welcomed a delegation of young people from the United States, many with proud Irish roots. Their participation celebrates the enduring connection between Ireland and its global diaspora, creating friendships that cross borders and offering young people the chance to learn from different cultures while discovering how much they have in common.
Highlights of the week included keynote sessions from former Army Ranger Ray Goggins and Olympian and Foróige alumnus Jack Woolley.
Eric O’Brien, CEO of Foróige, said: “When you bring together more than 300 young people with different backgrounds, experiences and ambitions, something really special happens.
"They inspire one another to think bigger, dream bigger and realise that they each have the ability to make a real difference. Every young person has the potential to lead; sometimes they just need someone to believe in them first.
This conference is about giving young people that belief, alongside the skills, experiences and friendships that will stay with them long after they leave Maynooth.
"The energy, optimism and compassion we see here each year reminds us of what young people can achieve, both now and in the future, if they are given the opportunity and the right support.”
Foróige is Ireland’s youth development organisation, working with over 56,000 young people and 5,600 volunteers annually. Through 500+ youth clubs, 180 targeted projects and national programmes such as Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Health & Wellbeing, Citizenship, and Leadership, Foróige enables young people to grow, thrive and lead.