7th August 2025

Over 300 young people from across Ireland and the United States gathered in Maynooth University this July for Foróige’s Leadership for Life Youth Conference. The week has become a milestone moment for so many teenagers on their journey to becoming confident, compassionate leaders.

The conference brought together 15–18 year olds for an immersive experience rooted in connection, reflection, and real-world leadership skills. Through workshops, guest speakers and group challenges, delegates explored communication, teamwork, goal-setting, problem-solving and what it really means to lead with empathy.

Guest speakers included science communicator Dr Niamh Shaw, theatre-maker Luke Casserly, and author Peter Cosgrove. Each brought their own message of courage, creativity and community. Their talks sparked fresh conversations about the kind of leaders our world needs and the role Foróige young people can play in shaping it.

As always, the heart of the conference was the young people themselves. They supported one another, stepped up in ways they never expected, and left with a stronger sense of who they are and what they stand for. Their energy lit up the campus all week.

One delegate, Ashraf from Blanchardstown, summed it up perfectly: “It’s not just about speaking up, it’s about listening, learning, and supporting those around you too. It’s been an amazing week, and I look forward to it every year.”