Young people in Limerick celebrate “Our Voice Our Europe” for European Youth Week 2026

Young people in Limerick celebrate “Our Voice Our Europe” for European Youth Week 2026. Students from St. Mary’s National School, King’s Island, Limerick took part in the Our Voice Our Europe event at the Northside Youth Space, Ballynanty, Limerick.

Limerick Youth Service (LYS) hosted Our Voice Our Europe event as young people celebrate the 2026 European Youth Week

Our Voice Our Europe event with Limerick Youth Service (LYS) at Northside Youth Space saw young people from across Limerick celebrate European Youth Week 2026.

This year’s celebration brought interactive workshops, creative activities and information sessions to young people as they explored the 2026 theme, “Solidarity and Fairness”.

The young people taking part in events explored how they can play an active role in creating more inclusive communities.

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Among participants were 6th Class students from St Mary’s National School, King’s Island and Thomond Primary School, Ballynanty, who took part in a European-themed t-shirt making workshop.

Students from Thomond Community College joined their peers from the LYS Youth & Family Support Project as they shared their experiences on Solidarity and Fairness in a jigsaw workshop.

Young people were also given the opportunity to take part in a badge-making workshop and experience a virtual reality youth space with the LYS WorkAbility Project, the latter of which is part of a European project with the Technological University of the Shannon.

The atmosphere throughout the day reflected the energy and creativity of the young people, with participants sharing their ideas, experiences and perspectives on Solidarity and Fairness.

A special highlight of the event was the presentation of EU YouthPass certificates to young people who participated in two youth exchanges with LYS to France and North Macedonia.

The young people, who are members of the respective LYS Garryowen Youth Together Project and the Diversity Youth Group, were presented with their Youthpass by Cllr Padraig Reale, a former participant on international youth work programmes.

Cllr Reale congratulated young people on receiving their awards as he reflected on the positivity of “so many young people availing of the many opportunities available with Limerick Youth Service through the Erasmus+ programme”.

Cllr. Reale fondly recalled his own participation in two youth exchanges, saying, “they opened my eyes to the outside world and gave me the confidence to explore more and pursue a career in the youth and community sector.”

The EU Youthpass recognises the learning, participation and personal development through youth work and non-formal education activities such as youth exchanges.

Speaking at the event, Fiona O’Grady, LYS CEO, said, “European Youth Week provides an opportunity to celebrate young people, their ideas and their potential.”

She said, “The theme of solidarity and fairness strongly reflects the values we promote every day through our youth work programmes and it is fantastic to see so many young people engaging in European Youth Week.”

LYS would like to thank all the young people, youth workers, facilitators and teachers who participated and organised the Our Voice Our Europe event at the Northside Youth Space.