Hi, my name is Ella, and I’m proud to represent Wexford Comhairle na nÓg at the National Youth Assembly 2025/2026.

I joined the National Youth Assembly because I wanted the opportunity to represent the voices of young people and contribute to important conversations on issues that matter at a national level.

While I’ve enjoyed being part of every Assembly so far, I’ve been especially passionate about the Climate Assembly. I had the opportunity to be part of the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), and it was an amazing experience. Climate is an issue that affects all of us, making it such an important topic to discuss and take action on.

Being part of the Assembly has helped me develop so many valuable skills, from teamwork and communication to public speaking. It has been a fantastic opportunity to grow while working alongside other passionate young people.

Coming from a rural area, it has been really interesting to hear the experiences of young people from across Ireland. I’ve learned that while our lives can be very different depending on where we live, many of the challenges we face are shared. Hearing these different perspectives has broadened my understanding and shown me how important it is to work together.

One of the best parts of being involved has been the friendships I’ve made. I’ve been lucky enough to meet so many amazing people, and that has definitely been the highlight of my experience.

I truly believe the National Youth Assembly is making a difference because young people’s voices are not only being heard, but genuinely listened to. It’s encouraging to see decisions being made with young people, rather than simply for them.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone thinking about joining an Assembly in 2026, it would be this: get involved as much as you can. Share your ideas, speak up, and don’t be afraid to contribute. We’re all there to learn from one another, and every voice has something valuable to add.