21st October 2025
Foróige is delighted to announce the appointment of Eric O’Brien as its new Chief Executive Officer, only the fourth person to lead the organisation in its 73-year history.
Eric’s journey with Foróige began more than twenty years ago in Blanchardstown, where he started out as a youth worker. Since then, he has dedicated his career to empowering young people and strengthening youth work across Ireland, leading services in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary, and serving most recently on Foróige’s Senior Management Team.
“I started out sitting in the same seat as many of our youth workers do now,” Eric said. “From my early days in Foróige in Blanchardstown to managing services nationwide, I’ve seen every side of youth work. Every step taught me something new about what young people need and what great youth work looks like. Those experiences have shaped how I lead today.”
Throughout his career, Eric has remained passionate about the people who make youth work possible – the volunteers and staff who dedicate their time to helping young people thrive. “What makes youth work powerful is that it ripples out,” he said. “It lifts young people, strengthens families, and connects communities. It’s not abstract to me – it’s real and tangible. It’s a young person finding their voice, a volunteer or staff member making that one connection that changes a life. That’s what keeps us doing this work.”
As he steps into the CEO role, Eric brings a rare combination of frontline understanding, management insight and deep belief in people. “The CEO role for me is about bringing all that experience together – the frontline understanding, the management insight, and the belief in people – to build on Foróige’s incredible legacy and strengthen it for the future. This role is an opportunity to shape what comes next, to make sure Foróige continues to be a place where innovation, inclusion and impact thrive.”
Welcoming the appointment, Dr Wayne Travers, Chairperson of Foróige, said: “We’re thrilled to appoint Eric O’Brien as Foróige’s new Chief Executive. He brings a rare combination of frontline experience, strategic insight, and a deep, personal understanding of what youth work means in real communities. His commitment to supporting staff, volunteers and young people alike reflects the very best of Foróige’s values. Having only had four CEOs in 73 years speaks volumes about the organisation’s stability, and we’re confident that under his leadership, Foróige will continue to grow, evolve and make a lasting impact on young people’s lives across Ireland.”
As Foróige begins this new chapter under Eric’s leadership, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower, inspire and support young people across Ireland to shape their own futures and the communities around them.
