Oíche na hÓige with LYS

Limerick Youth Service will celebrate this year’s Oíche na hÓige with events across Limerick City and County with events taking place from Thursday, November 12^th to Saturday, November 21^st.

Now in its second year, Oíche na hÓige recognises the impact of youth work and celebrate the creativity, connection and confidence that youth work brings to young people and communities.

To the theme of Youth Work for All, LYS 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:

• Rathkeale Youth Space open the celebrations on Thursday, November 12^th with as young people with Rathkeale Youth Group invite you to explore their youth space from 4-6pm (V94 K6K7)
• Young people are invited to a Collage Workshop with Tiffany at Lava Javas Youth Café from 5-7pm (V94 28C4)

On Friday evening, November 13, several LYS youth clubs and youth spaces will open their doors for Oíche na hÓige including:

• Baking, Christmas card making & more at the Northside Youth Space, Ballynanty, with all invited from 5-7pm (V94 TPP3)
• Limerick City Centre will be a hive of activity with a Ceili Mór at famous Lava Javas Youth Café, Lr. Glentworth St. Doors open from 4-8pm (V94 28C4)
• Hip hop stars Hazey Haze & MuRli will join the crew at Nicholas St Youth Space for an evening of art, games, music and lots more with the doors opening at 5pm (V94 F211)

Across the county, celebrations will be taking place in Askeaton, Granagh, Hospital, Murroe and Newcastlewest to name but a few.

• The Hallowe’en costumes will get another turn as the young people at Hospital Youth Café celebrate the spooky side of Friday the 13^th from 7-9pm (V35 T2K0)
• A Karate Session will be part of the fun at Granagh Youth Club with the sensei opening the doors at 7pm (V35 C584)

On Saturday, November 14^th, LYS will continue the Oíche na hÓige celebrations with family themed fun in Askeaton and Limerick City including:

• Coffee & Crafts at The Solar Youth Space, Askeaton Community Centre from 11am-3pm (V94 EH9Y)

The following week, there will be more action with the following family friendly events taking place:

• In Murroe, young people with the East Limerick Youth Project invite the local community to a special Youth Work Night at the Muntir na Tíre Halla on Thursday, November 19^th from 5:30-7:30pm (Eircode)
• on Saturday, November 21^st the Garryowen Youth Together Project will host a Community Morning for Families at the St. John’s Pavillion from 11am (V94 P2PD)

Oíche na hÓige is a moment to shine a light on the Youth Work for All campaign which positions youth work as a right and a lifeline that supports young people to face challenges, grow in confidence and find belonging.

Youth Work for All believes that very young person, wherever they live and whoever they are, have a right to quality youth services in their community.

‘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.

For more information on Oíche na hÓige, visit www.limerickyouthservice.com or contact the Youth Information Centre at yib@limerickyouthservice.com or call 061-412444.

Oíche na hÓige is an initiative of the Department of Education & Youth delivered in partnership with the Education and Training Boards, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the youth work sector.

LYS remains committed to connecting with youth people and supporting them to reach their full potential.

LYS is a member of Youth Work Ireland and the Irish Association of Community Training Organisations.

ENDS####