Oíche na hÓige celebrates local youth work and Limerick’s young people

Oíche na hÓige celebrates local youth work and Limerick’s young people

Limerick will join communities across the country to celebrate Oíche na hÓige on Friday, November 21

Everyone in Limerick and across Ireland has been invited to join together to take part in Oíche na hÓige/Youth Night 2025, a new national celebration of young people and the youth sector, taking place on Friday, 21 November 2025.

The event sees youth clubs, services and community groups in Limerick and across Ireland host local gatherings to celebrate the energy, creativity, and achievements of young people — as well as the vital work of youth workers and volunteers.

Among the local groups hosting events, Northside Family Resource Centre is set to host an Oíche na hÓige event. As part of Oíche na hÓige 2025, Northside Family Resource Centre will host MEME Fest, a youth-designed celebration, at the Northside FRC Youth Space from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, showcasing the energy, creativity, and achievements of young people in the local community.

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The evening will feature a “Dress as Your Favourite Meme” theme, “Minute to Win It” challenges, a “Break a World Record” station, music, prizes, board games, a chill-out zone, and a Polaroid photo booth with props so young people can take home a memory from the night. The event takes place in our youth space, which is designed and run using a youth-led, participation-based approach, ensuring young people shape the activities, atmosphere, and direction of the space. Local residents are invited to come along, meet the young people and staff involved, and see first-hand the impact of youth work in Ballynanty.

“Oíche na hÓige is a brilliant opportunity for us to open our doors and celebrate everything that makes youth work so special,” said Emmajane O’Callaghan, Youth Worker at Northside Family Resource Centre. “MEME Fest was designed entirely by the young people, and it reflects their creativity, humour, and the sense of community they’ve built here. It’s a night to celebrate them, their ideas, and the space they’ve helped shape.”

Inspired by the success of events like Culture Night, Oíche na hÓige is a new national celebration supported by the Department of Education and Youth under the Opportunities for Youth strategy, in partnership with the Education and Training Boards, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), and the wider youth work sector.

Limerick Youth Service is also proud to join Youth Work Ireland and our fellow youth services nationwide to celebrate Oíche na hÓige. On the evening, Limerick Youth Service will host events across its youth spaces, Community Training Centre and volunteer-led youth clubs with young people, parents, families and local representatives invited to join in the fun and learn more about the impact of youth work.

Among the highlights of what promise to be an action-packed evening with Limerick Youth Service are, Baking, Christmas card making & more at the Northside Youth Space, Ballynanty, Limerick V94 TPP3; Bat-walk & barista training sessions with East Limerick Youth Project, Cappamore Community Centre, Limerick V94 WK07; Ceol, caint agus craic at The Solar Youth Space, Askeaton Community Centre, Limerick V94 EH9Y; Drumming & art sessions at Lava Javas Youth Café, Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick, V94 28C4; and Explore further education & training for young people at the Community Training Centre, Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick V94 YF95.

The events also include Hip-hop with Hazey Haze & Daithí and the crew at King’s Island & Surrounds Youth Project, Nicholas St Youth Space, 41 Nicholas St, Limerick V94 F211; Inclusive sports for all at The Factory Southside Youth Space, Gavlone, V94 A9KT; Karaoke, board games and pool at Garryowen Youth Together Project, 21 John St, Limerick V94 WR58; Open evening at Rathkeale Youth Space, Abbeycourt, Rathkeale, Limerick V94 K6K7; and Question Time: find your answers with the Youth Information hub Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick V95 YF95.

“Through Youth Work for All and Oíche na hÓige, we are saying that youth work transforms lives. It’s time to recognise that every young person deserves access to the supports and opportunities that youth work provides and to be supported by trained youth workers,” said Fiona O’Grady, CEO, Limerick Youth Service.

“Limerick Youth Service joins our partners in calling for continued and increased national support and investment in youth work infrastructure.  As communities recover from social and economic pressures, youth work remains a cornerstone for resilience, inclusion and participation, particularly for those most at risk of exclusion,” said Ms O’Grady.

People across Limerick are invited to join youth clubs and community groups who are marking the night in a variety of ways across the city and county with events including, 45th Limerick Ahane Scout Group will celebrate Youth Night at the Coolbreedeen Campsite from 7 pm; St. Senan’s Youth Club will host an open night at Foynes Community Centre from 8-10 pm; and Southill Hub will host a ‘Men Inspiring Young Men’ event from 6 – 7:30 pm.

Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee TD said, “Oíche na hÓige / Youth Night is about shining a light on the amazing contribution young people make to their communities — and the adults who support them every day. Hundreds of events are happening and I encourage young people, their families and communities to have a look at what is available and join in with some of the great events being run by youth services, showing what is available all year round.

“I hope that through Oíche na hÓige / Youth Night, thousands of young people will get to experience youth services in their area.”