Comhairle na nÓg Induction Training

Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg (RCNN) began 2021 with virtual Comhairle na nÓg Induction Training. The training content included members’ hopes & fears, the role of a Comhairle member, leadership skills, listening skills, teamwork, programme planning, committee skills and Gaisce introduction.

Consultations and Collaborations

RCNN members took part in the following consultations, youth advisory panels and events:

  • Comhairle Members Networking Events Youth Advisory Committee
  • Comhairle na nÓg Climate Action Conversation
  • United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Consultation to get the views of children on their experience of being a child in Ireland.
  • Department of Education, Teachers’ Professional Learning Consultation
  • Youth Advisory Committee to assist the National Participation Office in designing and piloting a survey for young people on Universal Youth Services and the Youth Services Grant
  • National Cancer Control Programme on Sun Protection Behaviours Consultation
  • Dáil na nÓg Topic Consultation’s (x3)
  • Rural Youth Assembly Consultation to inform ‘Our Rural Future’, the Rural Development Policy for 2021 – 2025
  • Ulster / Connaught Comhairle na nÓg Members Regional Networking Event
  • Roscommon County Council – Roscommon Town Urban Regeneration Consultation

‘Things to do in Roscommon’ Video

In response to 2021’s topic, amenities for young people, RCNN worked on their ‘Things to do in Roscommon’ promotional video with Spicy Dog Media to showcase some of the magnificent amenities County Roscommon has to offer. The committee took part in three workshops: video planning, shooting, and editing. And spent a full day filming, travelling to various locations around the county. The video was officially launched at RCNN’s AGM in November 2021. Visit Roscommon shared the video to their social media platforms. Shannonside FM interviewed RCNN members about the video and Comhairle na nÓg in general. RosFM featured the video on their website and social media.

AGM 2021

Eighty-one young people, representing all nine secondary schools in Co. Roscommon, attended this year’s event. The AGM was opened by Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Joe Murphy and featured guest speaker Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Member of the European Parliament from Ireland for the Midlands–North-West constituency. Attendees participated in a workshop on the ‘Theory of Change’ facilitated by Trócaire’s Youth Development Education Officer. 

Topics for discussion were pre-selected through RCNN’s ‘Issues Affecting Young People’ survey. This informed RCNN’s ‘World Café’ workshop discussions. The topics identified were Facilities / Amenities for Young People, Drugs & Alcohol, COVID-19 and Mental Health. Mental Health was chosen, by 53% of the votes, as the main issue affecting young people in the county, making it Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg’s primary work topic for 2022.

Committees

RCNN members sat on the following youth-led and adult committees working on issues affecting young people:

  • Comhairle na nÓg National Executive working on the national topic of Climate-Conscious Transport Solutions.
  • Youth Work Ireland Midlands Youth Forum.
  • Roscommon County Council Joint Policing Committee
  • Roscommon County Council Climate Action Sub-Committee.
  • Roscommon County Council Planning, Environment, Climate Change & Corporate Governance Strategic Policy Committee
  • Galway Roscommon Education Training Board Youth & Arts Committee
  • Roscommon Comhairle na nÓg Steering Committee.
  • Registered member of Roscommon County Council’s Public Participation Network