Foróige young people brought a great deal of creative energy to the National Ploughing Championships last week! There were two major initiatives which attracted much interest; the National Junior Baking Competition, and the Foróige Time Travel Gardens, created with the support of well-known landscape artist Diarmuid Gavin. All of these activities came about due to the exciting partnership between Foróige and Aldi Ireland announced this year.
We're gleefully awaiting the National Ploughing Championships next week! Lots of Foróige young people will be attending from Foróige Clubs and Youth Projects to participate in a truly unique activity. We'll be mucking in with Diarmuid Gavin to design and create four 'time travel' themed community gardens. The opportunity came about through our partnership with Aldi Ireland and support from the National Ploughing Association. The young people attending will hail from Laois, Clare, Cork and Galway.
Eight finalists of the inaugural National Junior Baking Competition, sponsored by Aldi Ireland in association with Foróige and the National Ploughing Assocation, are getting ready for their county colour showdown! Pictured is Jessica Rooney from Lacken, Co. Mayo who is one of our finalists from the West.
The 7th Annual Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Conference came to an end last weekend and left a deep impression on all attendees. We were joined by 295 young people aged 15 to 18 from Ireland, India, Palestine, USA, Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Denmark.
There was a distinctive theme around human rights and peace-building. We were delighted to welcome Emily Logan, Noeline Blackwell and Ian White as speakers, all of whom are distinguished and respected individuals. Each speaker received a standing ovation and multiple questions from young people.
The winner of our #citizenshipchallenge June prize is Luke Kerrigan (14) in Grange Foróige Club, Co. Sligo. Luke organised a Tractor Run with over 100 tractors, raising €4,245 for a local boy requiring medical treatment for a mitochondrial disease. The phenomenal Foróige member set about organising and advertising the Tractor Run, creating signage, approaching the Gardaí, researching fundraising methods, securing raffle prizes and more. On the day itself, Luke welcomed 109 tractor owners!
There was no dampening of the party atmosphere at the 8th annual Band on the Strand in Lacken, Co. Mayo on Saturday 27th June – despite strong winds and rain. In fact, the inclement weather caused the attending partygoers to resolve to party even harder and give it all that they had! Foróige members from all over Ireland attended the event featuring bands The Academic, Everyday Solution, Deuces Wild and Spin Radio DJ Marty Guilfoyle.
