Above: Stars from BT Sport rugby team including Craig Doyle, David Wallace, Brian O'Driscoll & Ryle Nugent stopped by the Northside Youth Space ahead of last week's Munster v Racing 92 European Cup clash at Thomond Park.
New leaders in West Limerick, Lip Sync Battle, Christmas at Limerick Youth Service, Team Hope’s shoebox appeal, the Purple It Up campaign, Garda Youth Awards and more in this week’s Infolink.
Teens Honours by Garda Youth Awards
Limerick Youth Service’s D.A.Y (Diversity & Youth) Group and volunteer Caomihe Lalor, were among the young people and groups that were honoured at this year’s Garda Youth Awards at the Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Co. Limerick.
The success of LYS’ Diversity & Youth Group in raising awareness of the experience of migrant young people was acknowledge at the group were presented with the award.
The group was formed three years ago to allow migrant young people an opportunity to meet new friends, access information and, in some circumstances, learn English.
Below: Members of the D.A.Y Group with Garda Supt. Brian Sugrue
The D.A.Y group have bravely shared their experience, positive and negative, of growing up in Limerick with their play
StandUp receiving widespread critical acclaim while the talented troupe also captured the excitement of
Culture Night Limerick via a short film project with Fresh Film Ireland.
Caoimhe Lalor has been to the fore in advocating for the rights of wheelchair users including lobbing local authorities to tackle dog fouling on footpaths and campaigning to make historical buildings more accessible.
A sixth year student at Árd Scoil Mhuire, Corbally, Caoimhe also volunteers with a number of LYS youth clubs where she organises events and supports youth workers in delivering youth led programmes and activities.
Above: Caoimhe Lalor with Garda Supt. Aileen Magner
Speaking at the ceremony Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche, An Garda Síochána, congratulated the recipients on their deserved success saying ‘there is a real get up and do attitude with young people in Limerick and it’s fantastic to see them being honoured.’
The Limerick Garda Youth Awards were established in 2013 to acknowledge the positive contribution of young people to their local communities.
LYS wishes to congratulate all the recipients of this year’s Garda Youth Awards and wish them the very best in the future.
New Youth Leaders for West Limerick
Thirty-seven teenagers from West Limerick recently completed a youth leadership training programme with Limerick Youth Service (LYS) at the Burren Outdoor Activity Centre, Co. Clare.
The teens, who are members of Askeaton-Ballykisteen, Newcastlewest and St. Senan’s/Foynes youth clubs respectively, enjoyed two days of workshops & activities in the Banner County.
Delivered by LYS’ West Limerick youth work team, the leadership training programme is accredited by
Youth Scotland and equips young people with the skills and confidence to assume leadership roles in their youth clubs and community.
Above: Meet some of West Limerick new youth leaders.
‘The training programme covers a variety of topics such as teamwork, communication skills, body language and organising events,’ said Mary Harty, LYS.
‘The skills the young people have learned will stand to them as they progress to leadership roles with their respective youth club/group,’ added Mary, youth worker, West Limerick.
Away from the workshops, the young people took part in activities such as abseiling and kayaking while enjoying the fresh ocean air on the Wild Atlantic Way.
LYS wishes to congratulate the young people on their success and wish them the very best in the future.
Christmas Disco in Askeaton
Askeaton Community Centre will be a festive wonderland as
Askeaton-Ballysteen Youth Club hosts Limerick Youth Service’s annual Christmas Youth Disco.
The festive discotheque will see teenagers from across the Treaty County dance the night away on the banks of the Deel as the start their Christmas celebrations.
There are also rumours that Old St. Nic will take time out from his hectic schedule to stop by Askeaton and see who has been naughty or nice!
The disco is open to LYS affiliated youth clubs/groups only with interested parties asked to contact Amanda Buston at
amandab@limerickyouthservice.org to conform their attendance.
LYS Showcase at AGM
Limerick Youth Service will hold Christmas reflection and showcase at our Community Training Centre (Administration Building) on Thursday, December 5
th at 7:30pm.
The festival gathering is an opportunity for young people, staff and volunteers to reflect on the past year and prepare for the Christmas season.
The evening will also include presentations from young people will share their experiences with LYS many projects and groups while there will also be seasonal treats and carol singing by the LYS’ Youth Choir.
Those interested in attending are asked to contact Catherine at
catherineod@limerickyouthservice.org or call 061-412444.
LYS Purple It Up
Limerick Youth Service will ‘
Purple It Up’ over the next fortnight as it marks the 16 Days of Action against Violence against Women awareness campaign.
The Purple It Up campaign aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of violence against women and girls and show solidarity with those who are affected by it.
As part of the campaign, LYS youth groups will hold a number of workshops and discussions around different types of violence against women and girls such as emotional, mental and physical.
The 16 Days of Action campaign was launched on November 25
th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, while it ends on December 10
th, International Human Rights Day.
Lip Sync Battle
Limerick Comhairle na nÓg will hold a Lip Sync Battle at Dolan’s Warehouse this Sunday, December 1
st (3-6pm) with teenagers from across the Midwest invited.
The Lip Sync event will see members of Comhairle na nÓg (youth council) take to the stage in what promises to be an entertaining afternoon at the Dock Road venue.
The Lip Sync event is strictly a youth only event (Under 18s) in aid of the Novas. For more details please contact John Real at
johnr@limerickyouthservice.org or 0087-2626816.
Exodus: Understanding Refugees
A workshop that will address the plight and experience of refugees and asylum seekers will take place at Limerick Youth Service, Lr. Glentworth St, Limerick on Wednesday, December 4
th from 7-9:30pm.
Tiled ‘Displacement: Exodus, Exile and Resettlement of Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the Impact on Families and Young People, the workshop will be delivered by Santhi Corcoran, lecture and doctoral researcher at Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick respectively.
The workshop will be group work focused with audio visual materials that will contribute to the awareness and understanding of the experience of displaced communities.
For more information and/or to reserve your space please contact
shaym@limerickyouthserviice.org or call 086-8907671.
Christmas at Lava Javas
Yuletide cheer, festive tunes and treats galore await the young people of Limerick at Lava Javas as the popular youth café hosts its Christmas party on Friday, December 13
th from 4-9pm.
The Christmas Party promises to be a lively affair with rumours rife that a certain man from the North Pole may stop by the youth café!
For more details on please contact Shelly Goggin at
shelly.goggin@limerickyouthservice.org or call 087-7055197.
Meet LYS
Garda Youth Diversion Projects
Infolink’s ‘Meet LYS’ section features one of Limerick Youth Service’s youth groups, projects or programmes with this week’s edition featuring the Garda Youth Diversion Projects (
GYDP).
Embedded in their communities, GYDPs work with young people (12-18yrs) who are at risk of, or currently involved in anti-social behaviour.
GYDPs engage with young people in innovative and progressive programmes designed to meet their personal, social and educational needs.
Among these many programmes are the iScoil initiative, animal welfare, drug awareness, leadership skills, mental wellbeing and life skills such as budgeting and basic first aid.
GYDPs seek to encourage a better quality of life for everyone in the community and to support good relations between An Garda Síochána and young people.
LYS’s GYDPs are based in the following locations- Ballynanty, Irishtown and King’s Island with an outreach programme serving parts of Limerick City and surrounding suburbs.
Above: Old St. Nic at Limerick Youth Service Christmas Fair (see below)
Limerick Youth Service Christmas Fair
With the festive period fast approaching and thoughts turning to gifts, a trip to the annual Limerick Youth Service Christmas Fair on Thursday, December 12th (10am-2pm) is just what you need!
The Christmas Fair, which takes place at the LYS Community Training Centre, will give the public the opportunity to experience a Christmas Fair- LYS style!
An array of seasonal goods including bric-a-brac, paintings and last minute stocking fillers, will be on sale as will kennels, birdhouses and flower baskets that were produced by trainees with LYS Wood Art & Employability programme.
Patrons will also have the opportunity to sample some of the festive cuisines from LYS’ Bakery and Caterings courses team that will include homemade mince pies, puddings, Christmas Cakes & more!
Infolink can also exclusively reveal that a special guest is due to visit from the North Pole to check who has been naughty or nice at LYS!
