Comhairle na nOg
Sligo’s Youth Have Their Say
Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh is a Sligo County Development Board Project, involving a working partnership between Sligo County Council, County Sligo VEC and Foróige. Set up as part of the National Children’s Strategy (2000), Comhairle na nÓg provides a forum for young people to discuss local and national issues of relevance to them. Sligo CDB secured funding in 2008 to develop the Comhairle na nÓg from the Office of the Minister for Children under the Enhanced Programme of Activities Grant Scheme.
The 7th Annual Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh Event was hosted by Sligo County Development Board in the Clarion Hotel on the 9th December 2008. Young people from around the County were invited to attend, to express their views on topics deemed important by them.
The event consisted of a series of facilitated workshops on topics chosen by young people in Sligo:-Teenage Alcohol and Drugs and Youth Friendly Facilities in County Sligo. Findings from the workshops were presented back to the general assembly and distinguished guests which included The Mayor of Sligo, Councillor Veronica Cawley and the Leas Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Deirdre Healy-McGowan.
In her address to the Comhairle na nÓg, Mayor Cawley stated that “Comhairle na nÓg is one of the most important and innovative projects developed in recent years to give a voice to young people in our society”. She added that Comhairle na nÓg provides a firm platform for young people to develop their skills across a range of areas, something reflected in the very topical programme for this years forum.
The event culminated in elections to fill twelve places on the Comhairle na nÓg/Sligo Youth Council for a 2 year term. The election procedure reflected the County Council elections and electoral areas with representatives from each of the electoral areas being voted on to the council – Sligo/Strandhill, Sligo/Drumcliffe, Enniscrone, Ballymote and Tubbercurry. Cllr Healy-McGowan commented the “The rationale driving this process is the belief that while some of our students are too young to vote, this should not mean that they are completely disenfranchised. They still have concerns to express and strong views to articulate”.
Comhairle na nÓg is representative of the voice of young people in County Sligo. They meet monthly and take part in various projects and campaigns which they consider important to the youth of Sligo. The group are facilitated by Elaine Grenaghan, Comhairle Development Worker with Foroige.
An Interagency Expert Youth Advisory Group has been established by Sligo County Development Board to ensure that the voice of the Comhairle na nÓg gains access to the relevant adult decision making organisations in the county. The information recorded in the workshops in respect of Teenage Alcohol and Drug Use along with the importance of facilities for Sligo’s Youth will be fed back to the Office of the Minister for Children, Dáil na nÓg, the Local Authorities and also the relevant youth organisations in Sligo with the hope of effecting change for young people.
The Interagency Expert Youth Advisory Group for Comhairle na nÓg is made up of:- Elected Representatives of Sligo Local Authorities – Mayor of Sligo, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and the Chairs of the Councils Strategic Policy Committee’s and other agencies such as Sligo Co VEC, Foroige, HSE, An Garda Siochana, DSFA, SLPCo, RAPID, Voluntary Youth Council of VEC and the County Sligo Community Forum.
Congratulations to all those who were elected on the day. They will begin their two-year term on the Comhairle na nÓg in January 2009.
The following are the names of the newly elected Comhairle na nÓg members:
- Sligo/Strandhill Area: Caoimhe Hough and Brian Devaney
- Sligo/Drumcliffe Area: Aaron Waldron and Lorcan Feeney
- Enniscrone Area: John Feeney and Damien Mc Guinness
- Ballymote Area: Seamus Costello and Donal Mc Nabb
- Tubbercurry Area: These two places will be filled in the coming weeks
Those elected to represent Sligo at this year’s Dáil na nÓg Event in Dublin in February 2009 are:
- Moya Gorman
- Rachael Kilgallen
- Erin Beal
- Amy Mc Morrow
- Gavin Cawley
This is the first year that Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh (Sligo Youth Council) will be organised and operated by electoral area, giving a voice to young people in all areas of County Sligo. At present there are two representatives from each area on the council with the exception of Sligo/Strandhill who have eight. Youth committees will be set up in each electoral area comprising of up to eight members who will meet regularly in their locality. The two young people who are elected members of Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh (Sligo Comhairle na nÓg) will then represent their youth committee at Sligo Comhairle na nÓg meetings.
If you are interested in becoming a member of a committee in your area or if you would like more information on Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh (Sligo Youth Council) please contact Aisling Smyth, Administrative Officer, Community and Enterprise Telephone: (071)9111800 or Elaine Granaghan, Comhairle na nÓg Development Worker, Foroige on 086 0497089 or by email Elaine.granaghan@foroige.ie
- Newly Elected Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh (Sligo Youth Council) with Officials
Sligo County Development Board Comhairle na nÓg AGM – 13 October 2009
This year’s annual Sligo Comhairle na nÓg will take place in the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday 13th October 2009.
So What Is It All About??
Comhairle na nÓg is hosted by Sligo County Development Board and is about young people speaking out on issues that affect them with the hope of bringing about positive change.
It is open to all young people aged between 12 and 18 years.
If you are interested in attending contact your school principal or youth group leader
For further info email: Elaine at Elaine.granaghan@foroige.ie or call 086 0497089
Special Guest: iRadio 102-104
Broadcasting live from Comhairle na nÓg Shligigh
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County Hall, Riverside,
Sligo,
Co. Sligo.
GPS : Irish Grid 169896, 335864
Tel:071 9111111
Fax:071 9141119 Email:info@sligococo.ie
