• Contact Get Involved nav shape
    • Contact Get Involved
    Home | Bridging Borders: Louth Comhairle na nÓg’s Cross-Border Impact

    Bridging Borders: Louth Comhairle na nÓg's Cross-Border Impact

    Being situated in the Border Region, Louth faces both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, the region grapples with the lingering impact of the Troubles, while on the other, it presents unique opportunities for focused regional development.

    The challenges posed by Covid-19 and Brexit have starkly highlighted the differences experienced by young people living just meters apart in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

    Since 2009, Louth Comhairle na nÓg has been actively fostering connections with the Newry, Mourne, and Down Youth Council through various small-scale projects. These initiatives, ranging from day-long activities to community-building events, have laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration. In 2024, our focus is on expanding these efforts with a series of activities aimed at enhancing communication, addressing common challenges, and advocating for youth perspectives on cross-border issues.

    Youth-led dialogue events have provided platforms to discuss pressing issues identified by young people, including Brexit, Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol, Education, Politics and Voting, and Inclusion. Through these discussions, participants have articulated how these issues impact their lives and have effectively conveyed their insights to local and regional decision-makers.

    In April 2024, a delegation visited Dáil Éireann, with plans for a subsequent visit to Stormont in June. These visits enable young people to engage directly with their representatives, advocating for the needs of border region youth and elevating these issues at the national level.

    The initiative has fostered new relationships among young people from both sides of the border, promoting mutual understanding and solidarity. Additionally, it has established meaningful partnerships at an organisational level with cross-border counterparts. Local politicians and decision-makers have voiced strong support for the initiative, pledging to involve young people in future projects under the Memorandum of Understanding between Louth Council and Newry, Mourne, and Down Council.

    Louth Comhairle na nÓg’s 2024 initiative aims to bridge communities, share experiences, and advocate for meaningful change across borders. By empowering youth voices and fostering cross-border collaboration, the project strives to create a more connected and inclusive future for young people in the Border Region.

    More Impact Stories

    Shining Light on Youth Mental Health: Kerry Comhairle na nÓg’s Impact

    Read more

    Youth Travel Card: A Milestone Achievement for Comhairle na nÓg

    Read more

    Get involved

    Learn more about how Comhairle na nÓg works, and find out how you can play your part to make positive impact on the lives and rights of children and young people in communities across Ireland.

    Get Involved
    Call to action