2nd April 2022- Nine Blues club members awarded their Foundation Certificate in Youth Leadership and Community Action at NUIG

We kicked off our first ever Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative in our club in Nov 2020.

We were lucky enough to provide this course for 9 young club members aged 15-18years.

The Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative has seen over 800 young GAA members across Ireland complete the yearlong programme. During the programme the young GAA members gained aptitudes in essential leadership skills gaining from NUIG a FETAC level 6 third level qualification in Youth Leadership and Community Action for their efforts if module 3 is completed.

This unique programme evokes and honours the values Dermot Earley epitomised and tries to foster them in a new generation of young Irish leaders.

‘Your attitude is more important than your ability, your motives are more important than your methods, your courage is more than your cleverness and always have your heart in the right place’ - Dermot Earley Snr.

The Blues programme was run over three modules between Nov. 2020 and July 2021 with project submissions along the way.

The group focused very much on the needs of the community as we were in such strange times and their first group activity before we officially started the course was helping with the food appeal in conjunction with Connect Family Resource Centre.

The group started during COVID completing most of modules 1 & 2 online and were very active in the club when we got back to action with their initiatives for module 3.

During module 3, the community project module, the groups were very active in the community as it coincided with the lifting of COVID restrictions and they focused their tasks on helping the community ‘return’ to normal. They arranged a wonderful morning of music for our older members. There was chat, craic & ceol. The group made some lovely treats to have with a cuppa and all were entertained by the amazing Coinneach Farrell.

They were also busy assisting with the underage teams coaching on Thursday & Saturdays and we had a number of them helping out at Aston Village ETNS Sports day in June and any club sessions for the younger groups.

All of our participants successfully completed the Dermot Early Youth Leadership Award and those available were invited to attend and get awarded their certificates in NUIG Galway on 2nd April 2022.

We are all very proud & appreciative of the activities that the group completed.

Well done to all the participants :

Conor Mac Críosta

Emmet Murray

Ciara Nic Críosta

Christina Quinn

Coinneach Farrell

Jessica Duggan

Lily Mae Harmon

Josh Sheerin

Hannah Leech

Thanks to mentors Mags Nugent, James Murray, Lorcan Mc Quillan, Caitlin Connor & Orlaith Nugent that gave up their time to complete the facilitator training and provide the weekly workshops online and in person.

We wish our Dermot Early Leaders all the best in their future as they continue to lead.